Optical-Scanning-Height Measuring Device

ABSTRACT

To provide an optical-scanning-height measuring device capable of efficiently measuring a shape of a desired portion of a measurement object. Designation of a measurement point on an image of a measurement object S is received. Light emitted from a light emitting section  231  is deflected by the deflecting section and irradiated on the measurement object S. The deflecting section is controlled to irradiate the light on a portion of the measurement object S corresponding to the measurement point. A deflecting direction of the deflecting section or an irradiation position of the light deflected by the deflecting section is detected. Height of the portion of the measurement object S corresponding to the measurement point is calculated on the basis of the deflecting direction of the deflecting section or the irradiation position of the light deflected by the deflecting section and the light reception signal output by the light receiving section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims foreign priority based on Japanese PatentApplication No. 2016-256610, filed Dec. 28, 2016, the contents of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical-scanning-height measuringdevice that measures a surface shape of a measurement object.

2. Description of Related Art

An optical-scanning-height measuring device is used to measure a surfaceshape of a measurement object For example, in a dimension measuringdevice described in JP-A-2010-43954, light irradiated from a white lightsource is divided into a measurement light beam and a reference lightbeam by an optical coupler. The measurement light beam is scanned by ameasurement-object scanning optical system and irradiated on anymeasurement point on the surface of a measurement object. The referencelight beam is irradiated on a reference-light scanning optical system. Asurface height of the measurement point of the measurement object iscalculated on the basis of interference of the measurement light beamand the reference light beam reflected by the measurement object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By using the dimension measuring device of JP-A-2010-43954, it ispossible to measure a shape of a desired portion of the measurementobject. In this case, in order to irradiate the measurement light beamon the portion, it is necessary to prepare a position coordinate of theportion in advance after accurately determining a position and a postureof the measurement object with respect to the dimension measuringdevice. However, it is troublesome to place the measurement object whileaccurately maintaining the position and the posture. Therefore, thedesired portion of the measurement object cannot be easily designated.The portion cannot be efficiently measured.

An object of the present invention is to provide anoptical-scanning-height measuring device capable of efficientlymeasuring a shape of a desired portion of a measurement object.

(1) An optical-scanning-height measuring device according to the presentinvention includes: an image acquiring section configured to acquire animage of a measurement object; a position-information acquiring sectionconfigured to receive designation of a measurement point on the image ofthe measurement object acquired by the image acquiring section; a lightemitting section configured to emit light; a deflecting sectionconfigured to deflect the light emitted from the light emitting sectionand irradiate the light on the measurement object; a light receivingsection configured to receive the light from the measurement object andoutput a light reception signal indicating a received light amount; adriving control section configured to control the deflecting section toirradiate the light on a portion of the measurement object correspondingto the measurement point; a detecting section configured to detect adeflecting direction of the deflecting section or an irradiationposition of the light deflected by the deflecting section; and a heightcalculating section configured to calculate height of the portion of themeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point on the basisof the deflecting direction of the deflecting section or the irradiationposition of the light deflected by the deflecting section detected bythe detecting section and the light reception signal output by the lightreceiving section.

In the optical-scanning-height measuring device, the image of themeasurement object is acquired by the image acquiring section and thedesignation of the measurement point on the image of the measurementobject is received by the position-information acquiring section. Thelight emitted from the light emitting section is deflected by thedeflecting section and irradiated on the measurement object. Thedeflecting section is controlled by the driving control section toirradiate the light on the portion of the measurement objectcorresponding to the measurement point.

The deflecting direction of the deflecting section or the irradiationposition of the light deflected by the deflecting section is detected bythe detecting section. The light from the measurement object is receivedby the light receiving section and the light reception signal indicatingthe received light amount is output. The height of the portion of themeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point is calculatedby the height calculating section on the basis of the deflectingdirection of the deflecting section or the irradiation position of thelight deflected by the deflecting section detected by the detectingsection and the light reception signal output by the light receivingsection.

With this configuration, an operator can designate the measurement pointwhile confirming the measurement object on the image of the measurementobject. The height of the portion of the measurement objectcorresponding to the designated measurement point on the image isautomatically calculated. Therefore, the operator does not need to placethe measurement object in a state in which a position and a posture ofthe measurement object with respect to the optical-scanning-heightmeasuring device are accurately adjusted and does not need to prepare aposition coordinate of the measurement point in advance. Consequently,it is possible to efficiently measure the shape of a desired portion ofthe measurement object.

(2) The position-information acquiring section may superimpose anddisplay an indicator indicating a position of the received measurementpoint on the image of the measurement object acquired by the imageacquiring section. In this case, the operator can easily confirm thedesignated measurement point by visually recognizing the indicatorsuperimposed and displayed on the image of the measurement object.

(3) When the position-information acquiring section sequentiallyreceives designation of first and second measurement points, the drivingcontrol section may be capable of controlling the deflecting section toirradiate the light on a portion of the measurement object correspondingto the first measurement point after the position-information acquiringsection receives the first measurement point and before theposition-information acquiring section receives the second measurementpoint.

In this case, the height of the portion of the measurement objectcorresponding to the measurement point is calculated every time theposition-information acquiring section receives the designation of themeasurement point. The calculation of the height is executable beforethe position-information acquiring section receives designation of thenext measurement point. Consequently, it is possible to quickly acquireheights of a plurality of portions of the measurement object.

(4) The position-information acquiring section may further receivedesignation of one or a plurality of reference points on the image ofthe measurement object acquired by the image acquiring section. Thedriving control section may control the deflecting section to irradiatethe light on a portion or portions of the measurement objectcorresponding to the one or plurality of reference points. Theoptical-scanning-height measuring device may further include: acoordinate calculating section configured to calculate, on the basis ofa detection result of the detecting section and the light receptionsignal output by the light receiving section, a coordinate correspondingto the position on the image received by the position-informationacquiring section; and a reference-plane acquiring section configured toacquire a reference plane on the basis of a coordinate or coordinatescorresponding to the one or plurality of reference points calculated bythe coordinate calculating section. The height calculating section maycalculate, on the basis of the coordinate corresponding to themeasurement point calculated by the coordinate calculating section,height of the portion of the measurement object based on the referenceplane acquired by the reference-plane acquiring section.

In this case, the operator can easily designate the reference plane, onwhich the height of the measurement object is based, by designating theone or plurality of reference points on the image of the measurementobject. Consequently, it is possible to acquire relative height of theportion of the measurement object with respect to a desired referenceplane.

(5) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may have a peculiarcoordinate system decided in advance. The height calculating section maycalculate height of the portion of the measurement object based on anorigin in the peculiar coordinate system. In this case, it is possibleto acquire absolute height of the portion of the measurement object inthe peculiar coordinate system.

(6) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include: areference body disposed to be capable of moving along a first movementaxis; a light guide section configured to guide the light emitted by thelight emitting section to the deflecting section as measurement lightand guide the light emitted by the light emitting section to thereference body as reference light, generate interference light of themeasurement light from the measurement object reflected by thedeflecting section and the reference light reflected by the referencebody, and guide the generated interference light to the light receivingsection; a reference-position acquiring section configured to acquire aposition of the reference body; and a spectral section configured tospectrally disperse the interference light generated by the light guidesection. The light emitting section may emit temporally low-coherentlight. The deflecting section may deflect the measurement light guidedby the light guide section to irradiate the measurement light on themeasurement object and reflect the measurement light from themeasurement object to the light guide section. The light receivingsection may receive the interference light spectrally dispersed by thespectral section and output a light reception signal indicating areceived light amount of the interference light. The height calculatingsection may calculate height of the portion of the measurement object onthe basis of the position of the reference body acquired by thereference-position acquiring section and the received light amount ofthe interference light in the light reception signal output from thelight receiving section. In this case, it is possible to highlyaccurately calculate height of the portion of the measurement object onthe basis of the position of the reference body that reflects thereference light and the received light amount of the spectrallydispersed interference light.

(7) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include animaging section configured to image the measurement object. The imageacquiring section may acquire an image on the basis of a result of theimaging by the imaging section. In this case, it is possible to easilyacquire the image of the measurement object.

(8) The imaging section may further image the light on the measurementobject. The optical-scanning-height measuring device may furtherinclude: a first position specifying section configured to specify anirradiation position of the light in an image captured by the imagingsection; and a first determining section configured to determine whetherthe irradiation position of the light specified by the first positionspecifying section is present within a range decided in advance from themeasurement point. The driving control section may control thedeflecting section on the basis of a result of the determination by thefirst determining section. In this case, the driving control section caneasily control, on the basis of the result of the determination by thefirst determining section, the deflecting section to irradiate the lighton the portion of the measurement object corresponding to themeasurement point.

(9) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include: asecond position specifying section configured to specify, on the basisof the detection result of the detecting section and the light receptionsignal output by the light receiving section, a plane position on themeasurement object on which the light is irradiated; and a seconddetermining section configured to determine whether the plane positionon the measurement object specified by the second position specifyingsection is present within a range decided in advance from a positioncorresponding to the measurement point. The driving control section maycontrol the deflecting section on the basis of a result of thedetermination by the second determining section. In this case, thedriving control section can easily control, on the basis of the resultof the determination by the second determining section, the deflectingsection to irradiate the light on the portion of the measurement objectcorresponding to the measurement point.

(10) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include aguide light source configured to emit guide light irradiated on themeasurement object to overlap the light irradiated on the measurementobject from the deflecting section. In this case, the operator caneasily recognize the irradiation position of the light on themeasurement object from the deflecting section by visually recognizingan irradiation position of the guide light irradiated on the measurementobject from the guide light source.

(11) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may be configured toselectively operate in a setting mode and a measurement mode and furtherinclude a registering section. The position-information acquiringsection may receive, in the setting mode, the measurement point on animage of a first measurement object. The registering section mayregister, in the setting mode, the measurement point received by theposition-information acquiring section. The driving control section maycontrol, in the measurement mode, the deflecting section to irradiatethe light on a portion of a second measurement object corresponding tothe measurement point registered by the registering section. Thedetecting section may detect, in the measurement mode, the deflectingdirection of the deflecting section or the irradiation position of thelight deflected by the deflecting section. The height calculatingsection may calculate, in the measurement mode, height of a portion ofthe second measurement object corresponding to the measurement point.

In this case, in the setting mode, the measurement point on the image ofthe first measurement object is registered by the registering section.In the measurement mode, the height of the portion of the secondmeasurement object corresponding to the registered measurement point isautomatically calculated. Therefore, a skilled operator designates themeasurement points on the image of the first measurement object in thesetting mode, whereby, in the measurement mode, even when the operatoris not skilled, it is possible to uniformly acquire a calculation resultof the height of the corresponding portion of the second measurementobject. Consequently, it is possible to accurately and easily measure ashape of a desired portion of the measurement object.

(12) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include: ageometric-element acquiring section configured to receive, in thesetting mode, designation of a geometric element concerning a positionof the measurement point and cause the registering section to registerthe received geometric element in association with the measurementpoint; and a geometric-element calculating section configured tocalculate, in the measurement mode, on the basis of the deflectingdirection of the deflecting section or the irradiation position of thelight deflected by the deflecting section detected by the detectingsection, a value of the geometric element concerning a position of themeasurement point corresponding to the geometric element registered inthe registering section.

In this case, in the setting mode, a geometric element concerning aposition of the measurement point on the image of the first measurementobject is registered by the registering section. In the measurementmode, a geometric element of the second measurement object correspondingto the registered geometric element is automatically calculated.Therefore, the skilled operator designates, in the setting mode, thegeometric element concerning the position of the measurement point onthe image of the first measurement object, whereby, in the measurementmode, even when the operator is not skilled, it is possible to uniformlyacquire a calculation result of a geometric element of the correspondingportion of the second measurement object. Consequently, it is possibleto accurately and easily measure various geometric elements includingflatness and an assembling dimension of the second measurement object.

(13) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include adisplay section. The driving control section may control, in the settingmode, the deflecting section to irradiate the light on a portion of thefirst measurement object corresponding to the measurement point. Thedetecting section may detect, in the setting mode, a deflectingdirection of the deflecting section or an irradiation position of thelight defected by the deflecting section. The height calculating sectionmay calculate, in the setting mode, height of the portion of the firstmeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point and cause thedisplay section to display the calculated height.

In this case, the operator in the setting mode can recognize acalculated value of the height of the portion of the first measurementobject by visually recognizing the display section. By recognizing thecalculated value of the height of the portion of the first measurementobject, the operator can easily determine whether the measurement pointis appropriately designated.

(14) The height calculating section may cause the display section todisplay an error message when, in the setting mode, height of a portionof the first measurement object corresponding to the measurement pointcannot be calculated. In this case, by visually recognizing the displaysection, the operator in the setting mode can recognize that it isimpossible to calculate height of the portion of the first measurementobject corresponding to the measurement point. Consequently, theoperator can change disposition of the first measurement object or theoptical-scanning-height measuring device or change a designated positionof the measurement point to make it possible to calculate height of theportion of the first measurement object.

(15) The optical-scanning-height measuring device may further include:an allowable-value acquiring section configured to receive, in thesetting mode, an input of an allowable value of height of a portion ofthe first measurement object corresponding to the measurement point andcause the registering section to register the received allowable valuein association with the measurement point; and an inspecting sectionconfigured to determine, in the measurement mode, pass/fail of thesecond measurement object on the basis of the height of the portion ofthe second measurement object calculated by the height calculatingsection and the allowable value registered by the registering section.

In this case, in the setting mode, the allowable value of the height ofthe portion of the first measurement object corresponding to themeasurement point is registered by the registering section. In themeasurement mode, pass/fail of the second measurement object isdetermined by the inspecting section on the basis of the allowable valueregistered by the registering section. Therefore, the skilled operatorinputs the allowable value of the height of the portion of the firstmeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point in the settingmode, whereby, in the measurement mode, even when the operator is notskilled, it is possible to uniformly acquire a determination result ofpass/fail of the second measurement object. Consequently, it is possibleto accurately and easily inspect the second measurement object.

According to the present invention, it is possible to efficientlymeasure a shape of a desired portion of a measurement object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of anoptical-scanning-height measuring device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exterior perspective view showing a stand section shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the standsection and a measurement head.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a measuringsection.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a referencesection.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a focusingsection.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a scanningsection.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a selection screen displayedon a display section of the optical-scanning-height measuring device.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing contents of data transmitted betweena control section and a control board in operation modes.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control system of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a report prepared by a reportpreparing section.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of optical scanningheight measurement processing executed in the optical-scanning-heightmeasuring device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the example of the opticalscanning height measurement processing executed in theoptical-scanning-height measuring device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the example of the opticalscanning height measurement processing executed in theoptical-scanning-height measuring device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the example of the opticalscanning height measurement processing executed in theoptical-scanning-height measuring device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining an example of designation andmeasurement processing by the control board.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the example of the designation andmeasurement processing by the control board.

FIGS. 18A to 18C are explanatory diagrams for explaining the designationand measurement processing shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are explanatory diagrams for explaining thedesignation and measurement processing shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the designationand measurement processing by the control board.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for explaining the other example of thedesignation and measurement processing by the control board.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are explanatory diagrams for explaining thedesignation and measurement processing shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in a setting mode.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining another operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining the other operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining the other operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the setting mode.

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in a measurement mode.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the measurement mode.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device in the measurement mode.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing a control system of anoptical-scanning-height measuring device according to a firstmodification.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an opticalsection of an optical-scanning-height measuring device according to asecond modification.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS (1) Overall Configuration of anOptical-Scanning-Height Measuring Device

An optical-scanning-height measuring device according to an embodimentof the present invention is explained below with reference to thedrawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration ofthe optical-scanning-height measuring device according to the embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exterior perspective view showinga stand section 100 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, anoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 includes the stand section100, a measurement head 200, and a processing device 300.

The stand section 100 has an L shape in longitudinal cross section andincludes a setting section 110, a holding section 120, and a lift 130.The setting section 110 has a horizontal flat shape and is set on asetting surface. As shown in FIG. 2, a square optical surface plate 111on which a measurement object S (FIG. 1) is placed is provided on theupper surface of the setting section 110. A measurement region V wherethe measurement object S can be measured by the measurement head 200 isdefined above the optical surface plate 111. In FIG. 2, the measurementregion V is indicated by a dotted line.

In the optical surface plate 111, a plurality of screw holes are formedto be arranged at equal intervals in two directions orthogonal to eachother. Consequently, it is possible to fix the measurement object S tothe optical surface plate 111 using a clamp member and a screw member ina state in which the surface of the measurement object S is located inthe measurement region V.

The holding section 120 is provided to extend upward from one endportion of the setting section 110. The measurement head 200 is attachedto the upper end portion of the holding section 120 to be opposed to theupper surface of the optical surface plate 111. In this case, since themeasurement head 200 and the setting section 110 are held by the holdingsection 120, it is easy to handle the optical-scanning-height measuringdevice 400. Since the measurement object S is placed on the opticalsurface plate 111 on the setting section 110, it is possible to easilylocate the measurement object S in the measurement region V.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lift 130 is provided on the inside of theholding section 120. The lift 130 can move the measurement head 200 inthe up-down direction (the height direction of the measurement object S)with respect to the measurement object S on the optical surface plate111. The measurement head 200 includes a control board 210, an imagingsection 220, an optical section 230, a light guide section 240, areference section 250, a focusing section 260, and a scanning section270. The control board 210 includes, for example, a CPU (centralprocessing unit), a ROM (read only memory), and a RAM (random accessmemory). The control board 210 may be configured by a microcomputer.

The control board 210 is connected to the processing device 300. Thecontrol board 210 controls the operations of the lift 130, the imagingsection 220, the optical section 230, the reference section 250, thefocusing section 260, and the scanning section 270 on the basis ofcommands by the processing device 300. The control board 210 givesvarious kinds of information acquired from the imaging section 220, theoptical section 230, the reference section 250, the focusing section260, and the scanning section 270 to the processing device 300. Theimaging section 220 generates image data of the measurement object S byimaging the measurement object S placed on the optical surface plate 111and gives the generated image data to the control board 210.

The optical section 230 emits emission light having temporally lowcoherency to the light guide section 240. The light guide section 240divides the emission light from the optical section 230 into referencelight and measurement light, guides the reference light to the referencesection 250, and guides the measurement light to the focusing section260. The reference section 250 reflects the reference light to the lightguide section 240. The focusing section 260 focuses the measurementlight that passes through the focusing section 260. The scanning section270 scans the measurement light focused by the focusing section 260 tothereby irradiate the measurement light on a desired portion of themeasurement object S.

A part of the measurement light irradiated on the measurement object Sis reflected by the measurement object S and guided to the light guidesection 240 through the scanning section 270 and the focusing section260. The light guide section 240 generates interference light of thereference light reflected by the reference section 250 and themeasurement light reflected by the measurement object S and guides theinterference light to the optical section 230. The optical section 230detects a received light amount for each of wavelengths of theinterference light and gives a signal indicating a result of thedetection to the control board 210. Details of the measurement head 200are explained below.

The processing device 300 includes a control section 310, a storingsection 320, an operation section 330, and a display section 340. Thecontrol section 310 includes, for example, a CPU. The storing section320 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and a HDD (hard disk drive). Asystem program is stored in the storing section 320. The storing section320 is used for storage of various data and processing of the data.

The control section 310 gives, on the basis of the system program storedin the storing section 320, a command for controlling the operations ofthe imaging section 220, the optical section 230, the reference section250, the focusing section 260, and the scanning section 270 of themeasurement head 200 to the control board 210. The control section 310acquires various kinds of information from the control board 210 of themeasurement head 200 and causes the storing section 320 to store thevarious kinds of information.

The operation section 330 includes a pointing device such as a mouse, atouch panel, a trackball, or a joystick and a keyboard. The operationsection 330 is operated by a user in order to give an instruction to thecontrol section 310. The display section 340 includes, for example, anLCD (liquid crystal display) panel or an organic EL(electroluminescence) panel. The display section 340 displays an imagebased on image data stored in the storing section 320, a measurementresult, and the like.

(2) The Lift and the Light Guide Section

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the standsection 100 and the measurement head 200. In FIG. 3, detailedconfigurations of the lift 130, the optical section 230, and the lightguide section 240 are shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the lift 130 includes adriving section 131, a driving circuit 132, and a reading section 133.

The driving section 131 is, for example, a motor. As indicated by athick arrow in FIG. 3, the driving section 131 moves the measurementhead 200 in the up-down direction with respect to the measurement objectS on the optical surface plate 111. Consequently, it is possible toadjust an optical path length of measurement light over a wide range.The optical path length of the measurement light is the length of anoptical path from the time when the measurement light is output from aport 245 d of the light guide section 240 explained below until themeasurement light reflected by the measurement object S is input to theport 245 d.

The driving circuit 132 is connected to the control board 210. Thedriving circuit 132 drives the driving section 131 on the basis of thecontrol by the control board 210. The reading section 133 is, forexample, an optical linear encoder. The reading section 133 reads adriving amount of the driving section 131 to thereby detect a positionin the up-down direction of the measurement head 200. The readingsection 133 gives a result of the detection to the control board 210.

The optical section 230 includes a light emitting section 231 and ameasuring section 232. The light emitting section 231 includes, forexample, an SLD (super luminescent diode) as a light source and emitsemission light having relatively low coherency. Specifically, thecoherency of the emission light is higher than the coherency of light orwhite light emitted by an LED (light emitting diode) and lower than thecoherency of laser light. Therefore, the emission light has a wavelengthband width smaller than the wavelength band width of the light or thewhite light emitted by the LED and larger than the wavelength band widthof the laser light. The emission light from the optical section 230 isinput to the light guide section 240.

Interference light from the light guide section 240 is output to themeasuring section 232. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing theconfiguration of the measuring section 232. As shown in FIG. 4, themeasuring section 232 includes lenses 232 a and 232 c, a spectralsection 232 b, and a light receiving section 232 d. Interference lightoutput from an optical fiber 242 of the light guide section 240explained below passes through the lens 232 a to thereby besubstantially collimated and made incident on the spectral section 232b. The spectral section 232 b is, for example, a reflective diffractiongrating. Light made incident on the spectral section 232 b is spectrallydispersed to reflect at angles different for each of wavelengths andpasses through the lens 232 c to thereby be focused on one-dimensionalpositions different for each of the wavelengths.

The light receiving section 232 d includes, for example, an imagingelement (a one-dimensional line sensor) in which a plurality of pixelsare one-dimensionally arrayed. The imaging element may be amulti-division PD (photodiode), a CCD (charge coupled device) camera, ora CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensor or may beother elements. The light receiving section 232 d is disposed such thata plurality of pixels of the imaging element respectively receive lightsin a different focusing positions different for each of wavelengthsformed by the lens 232 c.

Analog electric signals corresponding to received light amounts(hereinafter referred to as light reception signals) are output from thepixels of the light receiving section 232 d and given to the controlboard 210 shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, the control board 210 acquiresdata indicating a relation between the pixels of the light receivingsection 232 d (the wavelength of interference light) and the receivedlight amount. The control board 210 performs a predetermined arithmeticoperation and predetermined processing on the data to thereby calculateheight of a portion of the measurement object S.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light guide section 240 includes four opticalfibers 241, 242, 243, and 244, a fiber coupler 245, and a lens 246. Thefiber coupler 245 has a so-called 2×2 configuration and includes fourports 245 a, 245 b, 245 c, and 245 d and a main body section 245 e. Theports 245 a and 245 b and the ports 245 c and 245 d are provided in themain body section 245 e to be opposed to each other across the main bodysection 245 e.

The optical fiber 241 is connected between the light emitting section231 and the port 245 a. The optical fiber 242 is connected between themeasuring section 232 and the port 245 b. The optical fiber 243 isconnected between the reference section 250 and the port 245 c. Theoptical fiber 244 is connected between the focusing section 260 and theport 245 d. Note that, in this embodiment, the optical fiber 243 islonger than the optical fibers 241, 242, and 244. The lens 246 isdisposed on an optical path of the optical fiber 243 and the referencesection 250.

Emission light from the light emitting section 231 is input to the port245 a through the optical fiber 241. A part of the emission light inputto the port 245 a is output from the port 245 c as reference light. Thereference light passes through the optical fiber 243 and the lens 246 tothereby be substantially collimated and guided to the reference section250. The reference light reflected by the reference section 250 is inputto the port 245 c through the lens 246 and the optical fiber 243.

Another part of the emission light input to the port 245 a is outputfrom the port 245 d as measurement light. The measurement light isirradiated on the measurement object S through the optical fiber 244,the focusing section 260, and the scanning section 270. A part of themeasurement light reflected by the measurement object S is input to theport 245 d through the scanning section 270, the focusing section 260,and the optical fiber 244. The reference light input to the port 245 cand the measurement light input to the port 245 d are output from theport 245 b as interference light and guided to the measuring section 232through the optical fiber 242.

(3) The Reference Section

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the referencesection 250. As shown in FIG. 5, the reference section 250 includes afixed section 251, linearly extending linear guides 251 g, movablesections 252 a and 252 b, a fixed mirror 253, movable mirrors 254 a, 254b, and 254 c, driving sections 255 a and 255 b, driving circuits 256 aand 256 b, and reading sections 257 a and 257 b. The fixed section 251and the linear guides 251 g are fixed to a main body of the measurementhead 200. The movable sections 252 a and 252 b are attached to thelinear guides 251 g to be capable of moving along a direction in whichthe linear guides 251 g extend.

The fixed mirror 253 is attached to the fixed section 251. The movablemirrors 254 a and 254 c are attached to the movable section 252 a. Themovable mirror 254 b is attached to the movable section 252 b. Themovable mirror 254 c is used as a so-called reference mirror. Themovable mirror 254 c is desirably configured by a corner cube. In thiscase, it is possible to easily array optical members.

The reference light output from the optical fiber 243 passes through thelens 246 to thereby be substantially collimated and thereaftersequentially reflected by the fixed mirror 253, the movable mirror 254a, the movable mirror 254 b, and the movable mirror 254 c. The referencelight reflected by the movable mirror 254 c is sequentially reflected bythe movable mirror 254 b, the movable mirror 254 a, and the fixed mirror253 and input to the optical fiber 243 through the lens 246.

The driving sections 255 a and 255 b are, for example, voice coilmotors. As indicated by white arrows in FIG. 5, the driving sections 255a and 255 b respectively move, with respect to the fixed section 251,the movable sections 252 a and 252 b in the direction in which thelinear guides 251 g extend. In this case, in a direction parallel to themoving direction of the movable sections 252 a and 252 b, the distancebetween the fixed mirror 253 and the movable mirror 254 a, the distancebetween the movable mirror 254 a and the movable mirror 254 b, and thedistance between the movable mirror 254 b and the movable mirror 254 cchange. Consequently, it is possible to adjust an optical path length ofthe reference light.

The optical path length of the reference light is the length of anoptical path from the time when the reference light is output from theport 245 c shown in FIG. 3 until the reference light reflected by themovable mirror 254 c is input to the port 245 d. When a differencebetween the optical path length of the reference light and the opticalpath length of the measurement light is equal to or smaller than a fixedvalue, interference light of the reference light and the measurementlight is output from the port 245 b shown in FIG. 3.

In this embodiment, the movable sections 252 a and 252 b move inopposite directions each other along the direction in which the linearguides 251 g extend. However, the present invention is not limited tothis. Either one of the movable section 252 a and the movable section252 b may move along the direction in which the linear guides 251 gextend and the other may not move. In this case, the unmoving othermovable section 252 a or 252 b may be fixed to the fixed section 251 orthe main body of the measurement head 200 rather than the linear guides251 g as an unmovable section.

The driving circuits 256 a and 256 b are connected to the control board210 shown in FIG. 3. The driving circuits 256 a and 256 b respectivelydrive the driving sections 255 a and 255 b on the basis of the controlby the control board 210. The reading sections 257 a and 257 b are, forexample, optical linear encoders. The reading section 257 a reads adriving amount of the driving section 255 a to thereby detect a relativeposition of the movable section 252 a with respect to the fixed section251 and gives a result of the detection to the control board 210. Thereading section 257 b reads a driving amount of the driving section 255b to thereby detect a relative position of the movable section 252 bwith respect to the fixed section 251 and gives a result of thedetection to the control board 210.

(4) The Focusing Section

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the focusingsection 260. As shown in FIG. 6, the focusing section 260 includes afixed section 261, a movable section 262, a movable lens 263, a drivingsection 264, a driving circuit 265, and a reading section 266. Themovable section 262 is attached to the fixed section 261 to be capableof moving along one direction. The movable lens 263 is attached to themovable section 262. The movable lens 263 is used as an objective lensand focuses the measurement light that passes through the movable lens263.

The measurement light output from the optical fiber 244 is guided to thescanning section 270 shown in FIG. 3 through the movable lens 263. Apart of the measurement light reflected by the measurement object Sshown in FIG. 3 passes through the scanning section 270 and thereafteris input to the optical fiber 244 through the movable lens 263.

The driving section 264 is, for example, a voice coil motor. Asindicated by a thick arrow in FIG. 6, the driving section 264 moves themovable section 262 in one direction (a traveling direction of themeasurement light) with respect to the fixed section 261. Consequently,it is possible to locate a focus of the measurement light on the surfaceof the measurement object S.

The driving circuit 265 is connected to the control board 210 shown inFIG. 3. The driving circuit 265 drives the driving section 264 on thebasis of the control by the control board 210. The reading section 266is, for example, an optical linear encoder. The reading section 266reads a driving amount of the driving section 264 to thereby detect arelative position of the movable section 262 (the movable lens 263) withrespect to the fixed section 261. The reading section 266 gives a resultof the detection to the control board 210.

Note that a collimator lens that collimates the measurement light outputfrom the optical fiber 244 may be disposed between the optical fiber 244and the movable lens 263. In this case, the measurement light madeincident on the movable lens 263 is collimated. A beam diameter of themeasurement light does not change irrespective of a moving position ofthe movable lens 263. Therefore, it is possible to form the movable lens263 small.

(5) The Scanning Section

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the scanningsection 270. As shown in FIG. 7, the scanning section 270 includesdeflecting sections 271 and 272, driving circuits 273 and 274, andreading sections 275 and 276. The deflecting section 271 is configuredby, for example, a galvanometer mirror and includes a driving section271 a and a reflecting section 271 b. The driving section 271 a is, forexample, a motor having a rotating shaft in a substantiallyperpendicular direction. The reflecting section 271 b is attached to therotating shaft of the driving section 271 a. The measurement lightpassed through the optical fiber 244 to the focusing section 260 shownin FIG. 3 is guided to the reflecting section 271 b. The driving section271 a rotates, whereby a reflection angle of the measurement lightreflected by the reflecting section 271 b changes in a substantiallyhorizontal plane.

Like the deflecting section 271, the deflecting section 272 isconfigured by, for example, a galvanometer mirror and includes a drivingsection 272 a and a reflecting section 272 b. The driving section 272 ais, for example, a motor including a rotating shaft in the horizontaldirection. The reflecting section 272 b is attached to the rotatingshaft of the driving section 272 a. The measurement light reflected bythe reflecting section 271 b is guided to the reflecting section 272 b.The driving section 272 a is rotated, whereby a reflection angle of themeasurement light reflected by the reflecting section 272 b changes in asubstantially perpendicular surface.

In this way, the driving sections 271 a and 272 a rotate, whereby themeasurement light is scanned in two directions orthogonal to each otheron the surface of the measurement object S shown in FIG. 3.Consequently, it is possible to irradiate the measurement light on anyposition on the surface of the measurement object S. The measurementlight irradiated on the measurement object S is reflected on the surfaceof the measurement object S. A part of the reflected measurement lightis sequentially reflected by the reflecting section 272 b and thereflecting section 271 b and thereafter guided to the focusing section260 shown in FIG. 3.

The driving circuits 273 and 274 are connected to the control board 210shown in FIG. 3. The driving circuits 273 and 274 respectively drive thedriving sections 271 a and 272 a on the basis of the control by thecontrol board 210. The reading sections 275 and 276 are, for example, anoptical rotary encoder. The reading section 275 reads a driving amountof the driving section 271 a to thereby detect an angle of thereflecting section 271 b and gives a result of the detection to thecontrol board 210. The reading section 276 reads a driving amount of thedriving section 272 a to thereby detect an angle of the reflectingsection 272 b and gives a result of the detection to the control board210.

(6) Operation Modes

The optical-scanning-height measuring device 400 shown in FIG. 1operates in an operation mode selected from a plurality of operationmodes by the user. Specifically, the operation modes include a settingmode, a measurement mode, and a height gauge mode. FIG. 8 is a diagramshowing an example of a selection screen 341 displayed on the displaysection 340 of the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400.

As shown in FIG. 8, on the selection screen 341 of the display section340, a setting button 341 a, a measurement button 341 b, and a heightgauge button 341 c are displayed. The user operates the setting button341 a, the measurement button 341 b, and the height gauge button 341 cusing the operation section 330 shown in FIG. 1, whereby theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 operates respectively inthe setting mode, the measurement mode, and the height gauge mode.

In the following explanation, among users, a skilled user who managesmeasurement work of the measurement object S is referred to asmeasurement manager as well and a user who performs the measurement workof the measurement object S under the management of the measurementmanger is referred to as measurement operator as appropriate. Thesetting mode is mainly used by the measurement manager. The measurementmode is mainly used by the measurement operator.

In the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400, a three-dimensionalcoordinate system peculiar to a space including the measurement region Vshown in FIG. 2 is defined in advance by an X axis, a Y axis, and a Zaxis. The X axis and the Y axis are parallel to the optical surfaceplate 111 shown in FIG. 2 and orthogonal to each other. The Z axis isorthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis. In the operation modes, data ofa coordinate specified by the coordinate system and data of a planecoordinate on an image acquired by imaging of the imaging section 220are transmitted between the control section 310 and the control board210. FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing contents of data transmittedbetween the control section 310 and the control board 210 in theoperation modes.

In the setting mode, the measurement manager can register informationconcerning a desired measurement object S in the optical-scanning-heightmeasuring device 400. Specifically, the measurement manager places thedesired measurement object S on the optical surface plate 111 shown inFIG. 2 and images the measurement object S with the imaging section 220shown in FIG. 3. The measurement manager designates, on the image, as ameasurement point, a portion that should be measured of the measurementobject S displayed on the display section 340 shown in FIG. 1. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 9A, the control section 310 gives a planecoordinate (Ua, Va) specified by the designated measurement point on theimage to the control board 210.

The control board 210 specifies a three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc,Zc) of a position corresponding to the plane coordinate (Ua, Va) in themeasurement region V shown in FIG. 2 and gives the specifiedthree-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) to the control section 310.The control section 310 causes the storing section 320 shown in FIG. 1to store the three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) given by thecontrol board 210. The control section 310 calculates height of theportion corresponding to the measurement point on the basis ofinformation such as the three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) storedin the storing section 320 and a reference plane explained below andcauses the storing section 320 to store a result of the calculation.

The measurement mode is used to measure the height of the portioncorresponding to the measurement point concerning the measurement objectS of the same type as the measurement object S, the information of whichis registered in the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400 in thesetting mode. Specifically, the measurement operator places, on theoptical surface plate 111, the measurement object S of the same type asthe measurement object S, the information of which is registered in theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 in the setting mode, andimages the measurement object S with the imaging section 220. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 9B, the control section 310 gives thethree-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) stored in the storing section320 in the setting mode to the control board 210.

The control board 210 calculates a three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb,Zb) of the portion of the measurement object S corresponding to themeasurement point on the basis of the acquired three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc). The control board 210 gives the calculatedthree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) to the control section 310.The control section 310 calculates height of the portion correspondingto the measurement point on the basis of information such as thethree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) given by the control board 210and the reference plane explained below. The control section 310 causesthe display section 340 shown in FIG. 1 to display a result of thecalculation.

In this way, in the measurement mode, the measurement operator canacquire the height of the portion that should be measured of themeasurement object S without designating the portion. Therefore, evenwhen the measurement operator is not skilled, it is possible to easilyand accurately measure a shape of a desired portion of the measurementobject. The three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) is stored in thestoring section 320 in the setting mode. Therefore, in the measurementmode, it is possible to quickly specify the portion corresponding to themeasurement point on the basis of the stored three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc).

In this embodiment, in the setting mode, the three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) corresponding to the plane coordinate (Ua, Va)is specified and stored in the storing section 320. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this. In the setting mode, a planecoordinate (Xc, Yc) corresponding to the plane coordinate (Ua, Va) maybe specified and a component Zc of the Z axis may be not specified. Inthis case, the specified plane coordinate (Xc, Yc) is stored in thestoring section 320. In the measurement mode, the plane coordinate (Xc,Yc) stored in the storing section 320 is given to the control board 210.

The height gauge mode is used by the user to designate a desired portionof the measurement object S as the measurement point on the screen andmeasure height of the portion while confirming the measurement object Son the screen. Specifically, the user places the desired measurementobject S on the optical surface plate 111 and images the measurementobject S with the imaging section 220. The user designates, as themeasurement point, a portion that should be measured on an image of themeasurement object S displayed on the display section 340. In this case,as shown in FIG. 9C, the control section 310 gives the plane coordinate(Ua, Va) specified by the designated measurement point on the image tothe control board 210.

The control board 210 specifies a three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc,Zc) of the position corresponding to the plane coordinate (Ua, Va) inthe measurement region V shown in FIG. 2 and calculates athree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the portion of themeasurement object S corresponding to the measurement point on the basisof the specified three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc). The controlboard 210 gives the calculated three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb)to the control section 310. The control section 310 calculates height ofthe portion corresponding to the measurement point on the basis ofinformation such as the three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) givenby the control board 210 and the reference plane explained below andcauses the display section 340 to display a result of the calculation.

In the storing section 320 shown in FIG. 1, coordinate conversioninformation and position conversion information are stored in advance.The coordinate conversion information indicates plane coordinates (Xc,Yc) corresponding to plane coordinates (Ua, Va) in positions in theheight direction (the Z-axis direction) in the measurement region V. Thecontrol board 210 can irradiate the measurement light on a desiredposition in the measurement region V by controlling positions of themovable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5 and angles of thereflecting sections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7. The positionconversion information indicates a relation between the coordinates inthe measurement region V and the positions of the movable sections 252 aand 252 b and the angles of the reflecting sections 271 b and 272 b.

A control system configured by the control section 310 and the controlboard 210 can specify a three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) and athree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of a position corresponding tothe measurement point by using the coordinate conversion information andthe position conversion information. Details of the coordinateconversion information and the position conversion information areexplained below.

(7) A Control System of the Optical-Scanning-Height Measuring Device (a)Overall Configuration of the Control System

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control system of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 shown in FIG. 1. As shownin FIG. 10, a control system 410 includes a reference-image acquiringsection 1, a position-information acquiring section 2, a driving controlsection 3, a reference-plane acquiring section 4, an allowable-valueacquiring section 5, a registering section 6, a deflecting-directionacquiring section 7, a detecting section 8, and an image analyzingsection 9. The control system 410 further includes a reference-positionacquiring section 10, a light-reception-signal acquiring section 11, adistance-information calculating section 12, a coordinate calculatingsection 13, a determining section 14, a height calculating section 15, ameasurement-image acquiring section 16, a correcting section 17, aninspecting section 18, and a report preparing section 19.

The control board 210 and the control section 310 shown in FIG. 1execute the system program stored in the storing section 320, wherebyfunctions of the components of the control system 410 are realized. InFIG. 10, a flow of common processing in all the operation modes isindicated by a solid line, a flow of processing in the setting mode isindicated by an alternate long and short dash line, and a flow ofprocessing in the measurement mode is indicated by a dotted line. Thesame applies in FIG. 35 referred to below. A flow of processing in theheight gauge mode is substantially equal to a flow of processing in thesetting mode. In the following explanation, to facilitate understanding,the components of the control system 410 in the setting mode and themeasurement mode are separately explained.

(b) The Setting Mode

The measurement administrator places a desired measurement object S onthe optical surface plate 111 shown in FIG. 2 and images the measurementobject S with the imaging section 220 shown in FIG. 3. Thereference-image acquiring section 1 acquires, as reference image data,image data generated by the imaging section 220 and causes the displaysection 340 shown in FIG. 1 to display, as a reference image, an imagebased on the acquired reference image data. The reference imagedisplayed on the display section 340 may be a still image or may be amoving image that is sequentially updated. The measurement manager candesignate, as the reference point, a portion that should be measured anddesignate a reference point on the reference image displayed on thedisplay section 340. The reference point is a point for deciding areference plane serving as a reference in calculating height of themeasurement object S.

The position-information acquiring section 2 receives designation of themeasurement point on the reference image acquired by the reference-imageacquiring section 1 and acquires a position (the plane coordinate (Ua,Va) explained above) of the received measurement point. Theposition-information acquiring section 2 receives designation of areference point using the reference image and acquires a position of thereceived reference point. The position-information acquiring section 2is also capable of receiving a plurality of measurement points andcapable of receiving a plurality of reference points.

The driving control section 3 acquires a position of the measurementhead 200 from the reading section 133 of the lift 130 shown in FIG. 3and controls the driving circuit 132 shown in FIG. 3 on the basis of theacquired position of the measurement head 200. Consequently, themeasurement head 200 is moved to a desired position in the up-downdirection. The driving control section 3 acquires a position of themovable lens 263 from the reading section 266 of the focusing section260 shown in FIG. 6 and controls the driving circuit 265 shown in FIG. 6on the basis of the acquired position of the movable lens 263.Consequently, the movable lens 263 is moved such that the measurementlight is focused near the surface of the measurement object S.

The driving control section 3 controls the driving circuits 273 and 274shown in FIG. 7 and the driving circuits 256 a and 256 b shown in FIG. 5on the basis of the position conversion information stored in thestoring section 320 shown in FIG. 1 and the position acquired by theposition-information acquiring section 2. Consequently, the angles ofthe reflecting sections 271 b and 272 b of the deflecting sections 271and 272 shown in FIG. 7 are adjusted. The measurement light isirradiated on the portions of the measurement object S corresponding tothe measurement point and the reference point. According to a change inthe optical path length of the measurement light, the optical pathlength of the reference light is adjusted such that the differencebetween the optical path length of the measurement light and the opticalpath length of the reference light is equal to or smaller than the fixedvalue.

According to the operation of the driving control section explainedabove, coordinates of the portions of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement point and the reference point arecalculated by the coordinate calculating section 13 as explained below.Details of the operation of the driving control section 3 are explainedbelow. In the following explanation, processing for calculating acoordinate of the portion of the measurement object S corresponding tothe measurement point is explained. However, processing for calculatinga coordinate of the portion of the measurement object S corresponding tothe reference point is the same as the processing for calculating acoordinate of the portion of the measurement object S corresponding tothe measurement point.

The reference-plane acquiring section 4 acquires a reference plane onthe basis of one or a plurality of coordinates calculated by thecoordinate calculating section 13 according to one or a plurality ofreference points acquired by the position-information acquiring section2. Concerning the measurement point acquired by the position-informationacquiring section 2, the measurement manager can input an allowablevalue for height. The allowable value is used for inspection of themeasurement object S in the measurement mode explained below andincludes a design value and a tolerance from the design value. Theallowable-value acquiring section 5 receives the input allowable value.

The registering section 6 registers the reference image data acquired bythe reference-image acquiring section 1, the position acquired by theposition-information acquiring section 2, and the allowable value set bythe allowable-value acquiring section 5 in association with one another.Specifically, the registering section 6 causes the storing section 320to store registration information indicating a relation among thereference image data, the positions of the measurement point and thereference point, and allowable values corresponding to measurementvalues. A plurality of reference planes may be set. In this case, theregistering section 6 registers, for each of the reference planes, areference point corresponding to the reference plane, a measurementpoint corresponding to the reference plane, and allowable valuescorresponding to the measurement values in association with one another.

The deflecting-direction acquiring section 7 acquires the angles of thereflecting sections 271 b and 272 b respectively from the readingsections 275 and 276 shown in FIG. 7. The detecting section 8 detectsdeflecting directions of the deflecting sections 271 and 272respectively on the basis of the angles of the reflecting sections 271 band 272 b acquired by the deflecting-direction acquiring section 7. Theimaging of the imaging section 220 is continued, whereby the measurementlight on the measurement object S appears in the reference image. Theimage analyzing section 9 analyzes the reference image data acquired bythe reference-image acquiring section 1. The detecting section 8detects, on the basis of a result of the analysis by the image analyzingsection 9, a plane coordinate indicating an irradiation position on thereference image of the measurement light deflected by the deflectingsections 271 and 272.

The reference-position acquiring section 10 acquires positions of themovable sections 252 a and 252 b respectively from the reading sections257 a and 257 b of the reference section 250 shown in FIG. 5. Thelight-reception-signal acquiring section 11 acquires a light receptionsignal from the light receiving section 232 d shown in FIG. 4. Thedistance-information calculating section 12 performs, on the basis ofthe light reception signal acquired by the light receiving section 232d, a predetermined arithmetic operation and predetermined processing ondata indicating a relation between a wavelength and a received lightamount of interference light. The arithmetic operation and theprocessing include, for example, a frequency axis conversion from awavelength to a wave number and Fourier transform of the wave number.

The distance-information calculating section 12 calculates, on the basisof data obtained by the processing and the positions of the movablesections 252 a and 252 b acquired by the reference-position acquiringsection 10, distance information indicating the distance between anemitting position of the measurement light in the measurement head 200shown in FIG. 2 and an irradiation position of the measurement light inthe measurement object S. The emitting position of the measurement lightin the measurement head 200 is, for example, the position of the port245 d of the fiber coupler 245 shown in FIG. 3.

The coordinate calculating section 13 calculates a three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) of the irradiation position of the measurementlight on the measurement object S on the basis of the deflectingdirections of the deflecting sections 271 and 272 detected by thedetecting section 8 and the distance information calculated by thedistance-information calculating section 12. The three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) of the irradiation position of the measurementlight includes a coordinate Zc in the height direction and a planecoordinate (Xc, Yc) in a plane orthogonal to the height direction.

The coordinate calculating section 13 may calculate, using, for example,the triangulation system, a three-dimensional coordinate of theirradiation position of the measurement light on the measurement objectS on the basis of a plane coordinate indicating an irradiation positionon the reference image of the measurement light detected by thedetecting section 8 and the deflecting directions of the deflectingsections 271 and 272. Alternatively, the coordinate calculating section13 may calculate a three-dimensional coordinate of the irradiationposition of the measurement light on the measurement object S on thebasis of a plane coordinate indicating the irradiation position on thereference image of the measurement light detected by the detectingsection 8 and the distance information calculated by thedistance-information calculating section 12.

The determining section 14 determines whether the measurement light isirradiated on the portion of the measurement object S corresponding tothe measurement point or a portion near the portion. Specifically, thecoordinate calculating section 13 acquires, on the basis of thecalculated coordinate in the height direction and the coordinateconversion information stored in the storing section 320, a planecoordinate (a plane coordinate (Xa′, Ya′) explained below) correspondingto the measurement point registered by the registering section 6. Thedetermining section 14 determines whether the plane coordinate (Xc, Yc)calculated by the coordinate calculating section 13 is present within arange decided in advance from the plane coordinate (Xa′, Ya′)corresponding to the measurement point.

Alternatively, the image analyzing section 9 may perform an imageanalysis of the reference image data to thereby specify a planecoordinate (a plane coordinate (Uc, Vc) explained below) of theirradiation position of the measurement light in the reference image. Inthis case, the determining section 14 determines whether the planecoordinate (Uc, Vc) of the irradiation position of the measurement lightspecified by the image analyzing section 9 is present within a rangedecided in advance from the plane coordinate (Ua, Va) of the measurementpoint registered by the registering section 6.

When the determining section 14 determines that the measurement light isnot irradiated on the portion of the measurement object S correspondingto the measurement point and the portion near the portion, the drivingcontrol section 3 controls the driving circuits 273 and 274 shown inFIG. 7 and the driving circuits 256 a and 256 b shown in FIG. 5 to movethe irradiation position of the measurement light. When the determiningsection 14 determines that the measurement light is irradiated on theportion of the measurement object S corresponding to the measurementpoint and the portion near the portion, the driving control section 3controls the driving circuits 273 and 274 and the driving circuits 256 aand 256 b to fix the irradiation position of the measurement light.

The coordinate calculating section 13 gives the coordinate calculatedconcerning the reference point to the reference-plane acquiring section4. The height calculating section 15 calculates, on the basis of thethree-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) calculated by the coordinatecalculating section 13 according to the measurement point, height of theportion of the measurement object S based on the reference planeacquired by the reference-plane acquiring section 4. For example, whenthe reference plane is a plane, the height calculating section 15calculates, as height, length from the reference plane tothree-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) in the perpendicular of thereference plane passing the three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc).The height calculating section 15 causes the display section 340 todisplay the calculated height. The registering section 6 registers, asregistration information, the three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc)calculated by the coordinate calculating section 13 and the heightcalculated by the height calculating section 15 in association with thereference image data, the position of the measurement point, theposition of the reference point, and the allowable value.

(c) The Measurement Mode

The measurement operator places the measurement object S of the sametype as the measurement object S, the registration information of whichis registered in the setting mode, on the optical surface plate 111shown in FIG. 2 and images the measurement object S with the imagingsection 220 shown in FIG. 3. The measurement-image acquiring section 16acquires, as measurement image data, image data generated by the imagingsection 220 and causes the display section 340 shown in FIG. 1 todisplay, as a measurement image, an image based on the acquiredmeasurement image data.

The correcting section 17 corrects deviation of the measurement imagedata with respect to the reference image data on the basis of theregistration information registered by the registering section 6.Consequently, the correcting section 17 sets, in the measurement imagedata, a measurement point and a reference point corresponding to theregistration information registered by the registering section 6.

The driving control section 3 controls the driving circuits 273 and 274shown in FIG. 7 and the driving circuits 256 a and 256 b shown in FIG. 5on the basis of the registration information registered by theregistering section 6 in the setting mode. Consequently,three-dimensional coordinates of portions of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement point and the reference point set bythe correcting section 17 are calculated by the coordinate calculatingsection 13. The driving control section 3 performs the control on thebasis of the three-dimensional coordinates and the heights registered inthe setting mode. Therefore, the coordinate calculating section 13 canefficiently calculate the three-dimensional coordinates of the portionsof the measurement object S corresponding to the measurement point andthe reference point set by the correcting section 17.

The kinds of processing by the deflecting-direction acquiring section 7and the detecting section 8 in the measurement mode are respectively thesame as the kinds of processing by the deflecting-direction acquiringsection 7 and the detecting section 8 in the setting mode. Theprocessing by the image analyzing section 9 in the measurement mode isthe same as the processing by the image analyzing section 9 in thesetting mode except that the measurement image data acquired by themeasurement-image acquiring section 16 is used instead of the referenceimage data acquired by the reference-image acquiring section 1. Thekinds of processing by the reference-position acquiring section 10, thelight-reception-signal acquiring section 11, and thedistance-information calculating section 12 in the measurement mode arerespectively the same as the kinds of processing by thereference-position acquiring section 10, the light-reception-signalacquiring section 11, and the distance-information calculating section12 in the setting mode.

The coordinate calculating section 13 calculates a three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the irradiation position of the measurementlight on the measurement object S on the basis of the deflectingdirections of the deflecting sections 271 and 272 detected by thedetecting section 8 and the distance information calculated by thedistance-information calculating section 12. The coordinate calculatingsection 13 may calculate the three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb)of the irradiation position of the measurement light on the measurementobject S on the basis of the plane coordinate indicating the irradiationposition on the measurement image of the measurement light detected bythe detecting section 8 and the distance information calculated by thedistance-information calculating section 12. The three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the irradiation position of the measurementlight includes a coordinate Zb in the height direction and a planecoordinate (Xb, Yb) in the plane orthogonal to the height direction.

The processing by the determining section 14 in the measurement mode isthe same as the processing by the determining section 14 in the settingmode except that the measurement point set by the correcting section 17is used instead of the measurement point registered by the registeringsection 6 and that the three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) is usedinstead of the three-dimensional coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc). Consequently,the coordinate calculating section 13 calculates a coordinatecorresponding to the reference point set by the correcting section 17.

The reference-plane acquiring section 4 acquires a reference plane onthe basis of a coordinate corresponding to the reference pointcalculated by the coordinate calculating section 13. Theheight-calculating section 15 calculates, on the basis of thethree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) calculated by the coordinatecalculating section 13, height of a portion of the measurement object Sbased on the reference plane acquired by the reference-plane acquiringsection 4.

The inspecting section 18 inspects the measurement object S on the basisof the height of the portion of the measurement object S calculated bythe height calculating section 15 and the allowable value registered inthe registering section 6. Specifically, when the calculated height iswithin a range of the tolerance based on the design value, theinspecting section 18 determines that the measurement object S is anon-defective product. On the other hand, when the calculated height isoutside the range of the tolerance based on the design value, theinspecting section 18 determines that the measurement object S is adefective product.

The report preparing section 19 prepares a report on the basis of aresult of the inspection by the inspecting section 18 and the referenceimage acquired by the measurement-image acquiring section 16.Consequently, the measurement operator can easily report the measurementvalue of the height or the inspection result concerning the measurementobject S to the measurement manager or other users using the report. Thereport is prepared according to a description format determined inadvance. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the report preparedby the report preparing section 19.

In the description format shown in FIG. 11, a report 420 includes a namedisplay field 421, an image display field 422, a state display field423, a result display field 424, and a guarantee display field 425. Inthe name display field 421, a name (in the example shown in FIG. 11,“inspection result sheet”) of the report 420 is displayed. In the imagedisplay field 422, a measurement image of an inspection target isdisplayed. In the state display field 423, a name of the inspectiontarget, an identification number of the inspection target, a name of ameasurement operator, an inspection date and time, and the like aredisplayed.

In the result display field 424, an inspection result concerning theinspection target is displayed. Specifically, in the result displayfield 424, names, measurement values, and determination results ofvarious inspection items set for the inspection target are displayed ina form of a list table in a state in which the measurement values andthe determination results are associated with design values andtolerances. The guarantee display field 425 is a blank for a signatureor a seal. The measurement operator and the measurement manager canguarantee an inspection result by signing or sealing the guaranteedisplay field 425.

The report preparing section 19 may prepare the report 420 onlyconcerning the measurement object S determined as a non-defectiveproduct by the inspecting section 18. The report 420 is attached to astatement of delivery in order to guarantee the quality of an inspectiontarget product when the inspection target product is delivered to acustomer. The report preparing section 19 may prepare the report 420only concerning the measurement object S determined as a defectiveproduct by the inspecting section 18. The report 420 is used in the owncompany in order to analyze a cause of the determination that theinspection target product is the defective product.

In this embodiment, a measurement value of height of a portion of themeasurement object S and a determination result of an inspection itemset concerning the portion are displayed in the result display field 424of the report 420 in a state in which the measurement value and thedetermination result are associated. However, the present invention isnot limited to this. Either one of the measurement value of the heightand the determination result of the inspection item may be displayed inthe result display field 424 of the report 420 and the other may be notdisplayed.

(d) The Height Gauge Mode

The user places a desired measurement object S on the optical surfaceplate 111 shown in FIG. 2 and images the measurement object S with theimaging section 220 shown in FIG. 3. The reference-image acquiringsection 1 acquires image data generated by the imaging section 220 andcauses the display section 340 shown in FIG. 1 to display an image basedon the acquired image data. The user designates, as a measurement point,a portion that should be measured on the image displayed on the displaysection 340.

The position-information acquiring section 2 receives designation of ameasurement point on an image acquired by the reference-image acquiringsection 1 and acquires a position (the plane coordinate (Ua, Va)explained above) of the received measurement point. Theposition-information acquiring section 2 receives designation of areference point using the reference image and acquires a position of thereceived reference point. The position-information acquiring section 2is also capable of receiving a plurality of measurement points andcapable of receiving a plurality of reference points.

The driving control section 3 controls the driving circuits 273 and 274shown in FIG. 7 and the driving circuits 256 a and 256 b shown in FIG. 5on the basis of the position conversion information stored in thestoring section 320 shown in FIG. 1 and the position acquired by theposition-information acquiring section 2. Consequently, measurementlight is irradiated on portions of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement point and the reference point and anoptical path length of reference light is adjusted.

According to the operation of the driving control section explainedabove, coordinates of the portions of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement point and the reference point arecalculated by the coordinate calculating section 13. The reference-planeacquiring section 4 acquires a reference plane on the basis of thecoordinate calculated by the coordinate-calculating section 13 accordingto the reference point acquired by the position-information acquiringsection 2.

The kinds of processing by the deflecting-direction acquiring section 7,the detecting section 8, the image analyzing section 9, thereference-position acquiring section 10, the light-reception-signalacquiring section 11, and the distance-information calculating section12 in the height gauge mode are respectively the same as the kinds ofprocessing by the deflecting-direction acquiring section 7, thedetecting section 8, the image analyzing section 9, thereference-position acquiring section 10, the light-reception-signalacquiring section 11, and the distance-information calculating section12 in the setting mode.

The coordinate calculating section 13 calculates a three-dimensionalcoordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the irradiation position of the measurementlight on the measurement object S on the basis of the deflectingdirections of the deflecting sections 271 and 272 or the irradiationposition of the measurement light detected by the detecting section 8and the distance information calculated by the distance-informationcalculating section 12. The coordinate calculating section 13 maycalculate the three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of theirradiation position of the measurement light on the measurement objectS on the basis of the plane coordinate indicating the irradiationposition on the measurement image of the measurement light detected bythe detecting section 8 and the distance information calculated by thedistance-information calculating section 12. The kinds or processing bythe determining section 14 and the height calculating section 15 in theheight gauge mode are respectively the same as the kinds of processingby the determining section 14 and the height calculating section 15 inthe setting mode.

(8) An Overall Flow of the Control System

FIGS. 12 to 15 are flowcharts for explaining an example of opticalscanning height measurement processing executed in theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 shown in FIG. 1. A seriesof processing explained below is executed at a fixed cycle by thecontrol section 310 and the control board 210 when a power supply of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 is in an ON state. Notethat the optical scanning height measurement processing includesdesignation and measurement processing and actual measurement processingexplained below. In the following explanation, either one of thedesignation and measurement processing and the actual measurementprocessing in the optical scanning height measurement processing isexecuted by the control board 210. The other of the designation andmeasurement processing and the actual measurement processing in theoptical scanning height measurement processing is executed by thecontrol section 310. However, the present invention is not limited tothis. For example, both of the designation and measurement processingand the actual measurement processing in the optical scanning heightmeasurement processing may be executed by the control board 210 or thecontrol section 310.

In an initial state, it is assumed that the power supply of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 is on in a state in whichthe measurement object S is placed on the optical surface plate 111shown in FIG. 2. At this point, the selection screen 341 shown in FIG. 8is displayed on the display section 340 shown in FIG. 1.

When the optical scanning height measurement processing is started, thecontrol section 310 determines whether the setting mode is selected byoperation of the operation section 330 by the user (step S101). Morespecifically, the control section 310 determines whether the settingbutton 341 a shown in FIG. 8 is operated by the user.

When the setting mode is not selected, the control section 310 proceedsto processing in step S201 of FIG. 15 explained below. On the otherhand, when the setting mode is selected, the control section 310 causesthe display section 340 shown in FIG. 1 to display a setting screen 350shown in FIG. 23 explained below (step S102). On the setting screen 350,a reference image of the measurement region V shown in FIG. 2 acquiredat a fixed cycle by the imaging section 220 is displayed on a real-timebasis.

In the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400 according to thisembodiment, in order to realize a correcting function of the correctingsection 17 shown in FIG. 10, it is necessary to set a pattern image anda search region in the setting mode. The pattern image means an image ofa portion including at least the measurement object S in an entireregion of a reference image displayed at a point in time designated bythe user. The search region means a range (a range in an imaging visualfield of the imaging section 220) in which, after the pattern image isset in the setting mode, a portion similar to the pattern image issearched in a measurement image in the measurement mode.

Thus, the control section 310 determines whether a search region isdesignated by the operation of the operation section 330 by the user(step S103). When a search region is not designated, the control section310 proceeds to processing in step S105 explained below. On the otherhand, when a search region is designated, the control section 310 setsthe designated search region by storing information concerning thedesignated search region in the storing section 320 (step S104).

Subsequently, the control section 310 determines whether a pattern imageis designated by the operation of the operation section 330 by the user(step S105). When a pattern image is not designated, the control section310 proceeds to processing in step S107 explained below. On the otherhand, when a pattern image is designated, the control section 310 setsthe designated pattern image by storing information concerning thedesignated pattern image in the storing section 320 (step S106). Notethat the information concerning the pattern image includes informationindicating a position of the pattern image in the reference image.Specific setting examples of the pattern image and the search region bythe user are explained below.

Subsequently, the control section 310 determines whether the searchregion and the pattern image are set by the processing in steps S104 andS105 (step S107). When at least one of the search region and the patternimage is not set, the control section 310 returns to the processing instep S103. On the other hand, when the search region and the patternimage are set, the control section 310 determines whether setting of areference plane is received (step S108).

When the setting of the reference plane is received in step S108, thecontrol section 310 determines whether designation of a point serving asa reference point is received on the reference image displayed on thedisplay section 340 by the operation of the operation section 330 by theuser (step S109). When the designation of the point is not received, thecontrol section 310 proceeds to processing in the following step S111.On the other hand, when the designation of the point is received, thecontrol section 310 instructs the control board 210 to perform thedesignation and measurement processing and gives a plane coordinate (Ua,Va) specified by the designated point on the image to the control board210 (see FIG. 9A). Consequently, the control board 210 performs thedesignation and measurement processing (step S110) and gives acoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) specified by the designation and measurementprocessing to the control section 310. Details of the designation andmeasurement processing are explained below.

Thereafter, the control section 310 determines whether the designationof the point serving as the reference point is completed by theoperation of the operation section 330 by the user (step S111). When thedesignation of the point is not completed, the control section 310returns to the processing in step S109. On the other hand, when thedesignation of the point is completed, the control section 310 sets thereference plane on the basis of one or a plurality of coordinates (Xc,Yc, Zc) acquired in the designation and measurement processing in stepS110 (step S112). In this example, on the basis of coordinates (Xc, Yc,Zc) corresponding to one or a plurality of reference points, informationindicating coordinates of the reference plane, for example, planecoordinates (Xc, Yc) corresponding to the reference points orcoordinates (Xc, Yc, Zc) corresponding to the reference points arestored in the storing section 320.

The information indicating the coordinates of the reference plane mayinclude a reference plane constraint condition for determining thereference plane. The reference plane constraint condition includes acondition that, for example, the reference plane is parallel to aplacement surface or the reference plane is parallel to another surfacestored in advance. In the case of the reference plane constraintcondition, when a coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) corresponding to one referencepoint is designated, a plane represented by Z=Zb is acquired as thereference plane.

After the processing in step S112 or when the setting of the referenceplane is not received in step S108, the control section 310 determineswhether setting to be received is setting concerning measurement of themeasurement object S (step S121). More specifically, the control section310 determines whether the setting to be received is setting forspecifying a portion of the measurement object S, the height of whichshould be measured.

When the measurement to be received is not the setting concerningmeasurement, the control section 310 acquires information concerning thesetting by the operation of the operation section 330 by the user andstores the information in the storing section 320 (step S130). Examplesof the information acquired in step S130 include information such as theallowable value and an indicator and a comment that should be displayedon a measurement image during the measurement mode. Thereafter, thecontrol section 310 proceeds to processing in step S126 explained below.

When the setting received in step S121 is the setting concerning themeasurement, the control section 310 determines whether designation of apoint serving as a measurement point is received on the reference imagedisplayed on the display section 340 by the operation of the operationsection 330 by the user (step S122). When the designation of the pointis not received, the control section 310 proceeds to processing in thefollowing step S124. On the other hand, when the designation of thepoint is received, as in step S110 explained above, the control section310 instructs the control board 210 to perform the designation andmeasurement processing and gives a plane coordinate (Ua, Va) specifiedby the designated point on the image to the control board 210.Consequently, the control board 210 performs the designation andmeasurement processing (step S123) and gives a coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc)specified by the designation and measurement processing to the controlsection 310.

Thereafter, the control section 310 determines whether the designationof the point serving as the measurement point is completed by theoperation of the operation section 330 by the user (step S124). When thedesignation of the point is not completed, the control section 310returns to the processing in step S122.

On the other hand, when the designation of the point is completed, thecontrol section 310 performs setting of the measurement point bystoring, in the storing section 320, coordinates (Xc, Yc, Zc) of one ora plurality of measurement points acquired in the designation andmeasurement processing in step S123 (step S125).

After the processing in either one of steps S125 and S130 explainedabove, the control section 310 determines whether completion of thesetting is instructed or new setting is instructed (step S126). When newsetting is instructed, that is, when the completion of the setting isnot instructed, the control section 310 returns to the processing instep S108.

On the other hand, when the completion of the setting is instructed, thecontrol section 310 registers, as registration information, the piecesof information set in any one of steps S103 to S112, S121 to S125, andS130 explained above in association with each other (step S127).Thereafter, the optical scanning height measurement processing ends inthe setting mode. A file of the registration information to beregistered is saved in the storing section 320 after a specific filename is attached to the file by the user. At this point, the informationtemporarily stored in the storing section 320 for setting in any one ofsteps S103 to S112, S121 to S125, and S130 may be erased.

In step S127, when the reference plane is set by the processing in stepS112 explained above, the control section 310 calculates height of themeasurement point on the basis of the reference plane and the specifiedcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) and includes a result of the calculation in theregistration information. Note that, when the reference plane is alreadyset at a point in time of step S125 explained above, in step S125, theheight of the measurement point may be calculated on the basis of theset reference plane and the specified coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc). In thiscase, a result of the calculation may be displayed on the setting screen350 (FIG. 27) as the height of the measurement point.

When the setting mode is not selected in step S101 explained above, thecontrol section 310 determines whether the measurement mode is selectedby the operation of the operation section 330 by the user (step S201).More specifically, the control section 310 determines whether themeasurement button 341 b shown in FIG. 8 is operated by the user. Whenthe measurement mode is selected, the control section 310 causes thedisplay section 340 shown in FIG. 1 to display a measurement screen 360shown in FIG. 32 explained below (step S202). On the measurement screen360, a measurement image in the measurement region V shown in FIG. 2acquired at a fixed cycle by the imaging section 220 is displayed on areal-time basis.

Subsequently, the control section 310 determines whether a file of theregistration information is designated by the operation of the operationsection 330 by the user (step S203). Specifically, the control section310 determines whether a filename of the registration information isdesignated by the user. When a file is not designated, the controlsection 310 stays on standby until designation of a file is received. Onthe other hand, when receiving designation of a file, the controlsection 310 reads the designated file of the registration informationfrom the storing section 320 (step S204). Note that, when the designatedfile of the registration information is not stored in the storingsection 320, the control section 310 may display, on the display section340, information indicating that the designated file is absent.

Subsequently, the control section 310 acquires registered informationconcerning a pattern image from the read registration information andsuperimposes and displays the acquired pattern image on the measurementimage displayed on the display section 340 (step S205). At this point,the control section 310 acquires a search region in addition to thepattern image. Note that, as explained above, the information concerningthe pattern image also includes information indicating a position of thepattern image in the reference image. Therefore, the pattern image issuperimposed and displayed on the measurement image in the same positionas the position set in the setting mode.

The pattern image may be displayed semitransparent. In this case, theuser can easily compare a currently captured measurement image of themeasurement object S and the reference image of the measurement object Sacquired during the setting mode. Then, the user can perform work forpositioning the measurement object S on the optical surface plate 111.

Subsequently, the control section 310 performs comparison of the patternimage and the measurement image (step S206). Specifically, the controlsection 310 extracts, as a reference edge, an edge of the measurementobject S in the pattern image and searches whether an edge having ashape corresponding to the reference edge is present in the acquiredsearch region.

In this case, an edge portion of the measurement object S in themeasurement image is considered to be most similar to the referenceedge. When a portion of the measurement image most similar to thereference edge is detected, the control section 310 calculates how muchthe detected portion deviates from the reference edge on the image andcalculates how much the detected portion rotates from the reference edgeon the image (step S207).

Subsequently, the control section 310 acquires information concerning aregistered measurement point from the read registration information andcorrects the acquired information concerning the measurement point onthe basis of a calculated deviation amount and a calculated rotationamount (step S208). The processing in steps S206 to S208 is equivalentto the function of the correcting section 17 shown in FIG. 10. With thisconfiguration, even when a measurement object in a corrected image isdisplaced or rotated with respect to the measurement object in thepattern image, it is possible to highly accurately and easily specifyand correct a measurement point.

Subsequently, the control section 310 instructs the control board 210 toperform actual measurement processing for each of corrected measurementpoints and gives coordinates (Xc, Yc, Zc) of the corrected measurementpoints to the control board 210 (see FIG. 9B). Consequently, the controlboard 210 performs the actual measurement processing (step S209) andgives a coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) specified by the actual measurementprocessing to the control section 310. Details of the actual measurementprocessing are explained below.

Subsequently, the control section 310 acquires registered informationconcerning a reference plane, calculates height of a measurement pointon the basis of the reference plane and the acquired coordinate (Xb, Yb,Zb), and stores a result of the calculation in the storing section 320as a measurement result. The control section 310 performs various kindsof processing corresponding to registered other kinds of information(step S210). As the various kinds of information corresponding to theregistered other kinds of information, for example, when an allowablevalue is included in read registration information, inspectionprocessing for determining whether the calculation result of the heightis within a range of a tolerance set by the allowable value may beperformed. Thereafter, the optical scanning height measurementprocessing ends in the measurement mode.

When the measurement mode is not selected in step S201 explained above,the control section 310 determines whether the height gauge mode isselected by the operation of the operation section 330 by the user (stepS211). More specifically, the control section 310 determines whether theheight gauge button 341 c shown in FIG. 8 is operated by the user. Whenthe height gauge mode is not selected, the control section 310 returnsto the processing in step S101.

On the other hand, when the height gauge mode is selected, the controlsection 310 causes the display section 340 shown in FIG. 1 to displaythe setting screen 350 shown in FIG. 25 explained below (step S212).Thereafter, the control section 310 performs setting of a referenceplane on the basis of the operation of the operation section 330 by theuser (step S213). This setting processing is the same as the processingin steps S109 to S112 explained above.

Thereafter, when receiving designation of a point, the control section310 instructs the control board 210 to perform the designation andmeasurement processing and gives a plane coordinate (Ua, Va) specifiedby a designated point on the image to the control board 210 (see FIG.9C). Consequently, the control board 210 performs the designation andmeasurement processing (step S214). The control board 210 adjusts thepositions of the movable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5 andthe angles of the reflecting sections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7 onthe basis of the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) specified by the designationand measurement processing and the position conversion information andirradiates measurement light (step S215).

Subsequently, the control board 210 calculates, on the basis of thelight reception signal output from the light receiving section 232 dshown in FIG. 4, the positions of the movable sections 252 a and 252 bshown in FIG. 5, and the deflecting directions, of the deflectingsections 271 and 272 shown in FIG. 7, a three-dimensional coordinate(Xb, Yb, Zb) of a portion on which the measurement light is irradiatedon the measurement object S and gives the three-dimensional coordinate(Xb, Yb, Zb) to the control section 310 (step S216).

Note that, in step S216 explained above, the control board 210 maycalculate, on the basis of the light reception signal output from thelight receiving section 232 d shown in FIG. 4, the positions of themovable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5, and the planecoordinate indicating the irradiation position of the measurement lighton the image acquired by the imaging section 220 shown in FIG. 1, thethree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the portion on which themeasurement light is irradiated on the measurement object S.

Subsequently, the control section 310 acquires information concerningthe set reference plane, calculates, on the basis of the reference planeand the acquired coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb), height of the portion on whichthe measurement light is irradiated on the measurement object S, anddisplays a result of the calculation on the display section 340 as ameasurement result. For example, when the reference plane is a plane,the control section 310 calculates, as height, the length of aperpendicular of the reference plane, which passes the acquiredcoordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb), from the reference plane to the coordinate (Xb,Yb, Zb) at the time when the perpendicular is drawn and displays aresult of the calculation on the display section 340 as a measurementresult. The control section 310 displays, on the display section 340, agreen “+” mark, which indicates that the height of the portion of themeasurement object S corresponding to the measurement point can becalculated, in a plane coordinate indicating the irradiation position ofthe measurement light on the image acquired by the imaging section 220or a plane coordinate specified by the designated point on the image(step S217).

Subsequently, the control section 310 determines whether an additionalpoint is designated by the operation of the operation section 330 by theuser (step S218). When an additional point is designated, the controlsection 310 returns to the processing in step S214. Consequently, theprocessing in steps S214 to S218 is repeated until no additional pointis designated. When an additional point is not designated, the opticalscanning height measurement processing ends in the height gauge mode.

With the height gauge mode explained above, the user can designate areference point and a reference plane by designating a point on animage. The user can acquire a measurement result of height bydesignating a measurement point on a screen. Further, the user cancontinue the measurement while continuously maintaining the referenceplane by designating a plurality of measurement points.

(9) An Example of the Designation and Measurement Processing

FIGS. 16 and 17 are flowcharts for explaining an example of thedesignation and measurement processing by the control board 210. FIGS.18A to 19B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the designation andmeasurement processing shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In each of FIGS. 18A to18C and FIGS. 19A and 19B, on the left side, a positional relationbetween the measurement object S placed on the optical surface plate 111and the imaging section 220 and the scanning section 270 is shown as aside view and, on the right side, an image displayed on the displaysection 340 by imaging of the imaging section 220 is shown. The imagedisplayed on the display section 340 includes an image SI of themeasurement object S. In the following explanation, a plane coordinateon the image displayed on the display section 340 is referred to asscreen coordinate.

The control board 210 starts the designation and measurement processingby receiving a command for the designation and measurement processingfrom the control section 310. Therefore, the control board 210 acquiresa screen coordinate (Ua, Va) given from the control section 310 togetherwith the command (step S301).

On the right side of FIG. 18A, the screen coordinate (Ua, Va) is shownon the image displayed on the display section 340. On the left side ofFIG. 18A, a portion of the measurement object S corresponding to thescreen coordinate (Ua, Va) is indicated by a point P0.

In step S301, a component of the Z axis (a component in the heightdirection) in a coordinate of the point P0 corresponding to the screencoordinate (Ua, Va) is unknown. Therefore, the control board 210 assumesthe component of the Z axis of the point P0 designated by the user as“Za” (step S302). In this case, as shown in FIG. 18B, the assumedcomponent of the Z axis does not always coincide with a component of theZ axis of an actually designated point P0.

Subsequently, the control board 210 calculates, on the basis of thecoordinate conversion information explained above, a plane coordinate(Xa, Ya) corresponding to the screen coordinate (Ua, Va) at the timewhen the component of the Z axis is the assumed “Za” (step S303).Consequently, as shown in FIG. 18B, a coordinate (Xa, Ya, Za) of animaginary point P1 corresponding to the screen coordinate (Ua, Va) andthe assumed component of the Z axis is obtained. Note that, in thisexample, it is assumed that “Za” is an intermediate position in the Zdirection in the measurement region V shown in FIG. 2.

Subsequently, the control board 210 adjusts the positions of the movablesections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5 and the angles of thereflecting sections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7 on the basis of thecoordinate (Xa, Ya, Za) obtained by processing in step S303 and theposition conversion information and irradiates the measurement light(step S304).

In this case, when the component of the Z axis assumed in step S302greatly deviates from a component of the Z axis of the actuallydesignated point P0, as shown in the side view on the left side of FIG.18C, an irradiation position of the measurement light on the measurementobject S greatly deviates from the actually designated point P0.Therefore, processing explained below is performed.

According to processing in step S304, an irradiation portion (a lightspot) of the measurement light irradiated on the measurement object Sfrom the scanning section 270 appears on the image acquired by theimaging section 220. In this case, it is possible to easily detect ascreen coordinate of the irradiation portion of the measurement lightusing image processing and the like. In the figure on the right side ofFIG. 18C, an irradiation portion (a light spot) of the measurement lightappearing on an image displayed on the display section 340 is indicatedby a circle.

After the processing in step S304, the control board 210 detects, as ascreen coordinate (Uc, Vc), a plane coordinate indicating an irradiationposition of the measurement light on the image acquired by the imagingsection 220 and detects a deflecting direction of the measurement lightfrom the angles of the reflecting sections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG.7 (step S305).

Subsequently, the control board 210 sets, as a coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc),a coordinate of an irradiation position P2 of the measurement light onthe measurement object S or the optical surface plate 111 on the basisof the detected screen coordinate (Uc, Vc) and the deflecting direction(step S306).

As shown in FIG. 18C, when the irradiation position P2 deviates from thepoint P0, the screen coordinate (Uc, Vc) deviates from the screencoordinate (Ua, Va). Therefore, the control board 210 calculates anerror (Ua-Uc, Va-Vc) of the detected screen coordinate (Uc, Vc) withrespect to the screen coordinate (Ua, Va) and determines whether thecalculated error is within a determination range decided in advance(step S307). The determination range used at this point may be able tobe set by the user or may be set in advance during factory shipment ofthe optical-scanning-height measuring device 400.

When, in step S307, the error (Ua-Uc, Va-Vc) is within the determinationrange decided in advance, the control board 210 specifies, as acoordinate designated by the user, the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) decidedin the immediately preceding step S306 (step S308) and ends thedesignation and measurement processing. Thereafter, the control board210 gives the specified coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) to the control section310.

When, in step S307, the error (Ua-Uc, Va-Vc) is outside thedetermination range decided in advance, the control board 210 adjuststhe deflecting direction of the measurement light on the basis of theerror (Ua-Uc, Va-Vc) (step S309). Specifically, for example, a relationbetween errors on screen coordinates corresponding to the X axis and theY axis and angles of the reflecting sections 271 b and 272 b that shouldbe adjusted is stored in the storing section 320 in advance as an errorcorrespondence relation. Then, as indicated by a white arrow in FIG.19A, the control board 210 finely adjusts the deflecting direction ofthe measurement light on the basis of the calculated error (Ua-Uc,Va-Vc) and the error correspondence relation.

Thereafter, the control board 210 returns to the processing in stepS305. Consequently, after the deflecting direction of the measurementlight is finely adjusted, the processing in steps S305 to S307 isperformed again. As a result, finally, as shown in FIG. 19B, the error(Ua-Uc, Va-Vc) is within the determination range. Consequently, acoordinate (Xc, Yc, 4 c) corresponding to the measurement pointdesignated by the user is specified.

In this example, the coordinate of the irradiation position P2 iscalculated as the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) by the processing in stepS306. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Thecoordinate of the irradiation position P2 may be calculated as thecoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) by processing in steps S405 and S406 in thedesignation and measurement processing shown in FIGS. 20 and 21explained below.

(10) Another Example of the Designation and Measurement Processing

FIGS. 20 and 21 are flowcharts for explaining another example of thedesignation and measurement processing by the control board 210. FIGS.22A and 22B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the designation andmeasurement processing shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. In each of FIGS. 22Aand 22B, on the left side, a positional relation between the measurementobject S placed on the optical surface plate 111 and the imaging section220 and the scanning section 270 is shown as a side view and, on theright side, an image displayed on the display section 340 by imaging ofthe imaging section 220 is shown.

When the designation and measurement processing is started, the controlboard 210 acquires a screen coordinate (Ua, Va) given from the controlsection 310 together with a command (step S401). Subsequently, as in theprocessing in step S302 explained above, the control board 210 assumes acomponent of the Z axis of the point P0 designated by the user as “Za”(step S402). In this case, as in the example shown in FIG. 18B, theassumed component of the Z axis does not always coincide with acomponent of the Z axis of the actually designated point P0.

Subsequently, as in the processing in step S303 explained above, thecontrol board 210 calculates a plane coordinate (Xa, Ya) correspondingto a screen coordinate (Ua, Va) at the time when the assumed componentof the Z axis is “Za” (step S403). As in the processing in step S304explained above, the control board 210 adjusts the positions of themovable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5 and the angles of thereflecting sections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7 on the basis of acoordinate (Xa, Ya, Za) of the imaginary point P1 obtained by theprocessing in step S403 and the position conversion information andirradiates the measurement light (step S404). In step S404, a relationbetween the point P0 designated by the user and an irradiation positionof the measurement light irradiated on the measurement object S is thesame as the relation shown in FIG. 18C. Thereafter, the followingprocessing is performed such that the irradiation position of themeasurement light on the measurement object S coincides with or is closeto the actually designated point P0.

First, the control board 210 detects the positions of the movablesections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5 and detects a deflectingdirection of the measurement light from the angles of the reflectingsections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7 (step S405).

Subsequently, the control board 210 calculates a distance between anemitting position of the measurement light and an irradiation positionof the measurement light in the measurement object S on the basis of thepositions of the movable sections 252 a and 252 b detected in theimmediately preceding step S405 and the light reception signal acquiredby the light receiving section 232 d shown in FIG. 4. The control board210 sets, as a coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc), a coordinate of the irradiationposition P2 of the measurement light on the measurement object S or theoptical surface plate 111 on the basis of the calculated distance andthe deflecting direction of the measurement light detected in theimmediately preceding step S405 (step S406).

According to the processing in step S406 explained above, it isestimated that the component “Zc” of the Z axis of the irradiationposition P2 of the measurement light is a value coinciding with or closeto the component of the Z axis of the point P0 designated by the user.Therefore, the control board 210 calculates, on the basis of thecoordinate conversion information, a plane coordinate (Xa′, Ya′)corresponding to a screen coordinate (Ua, Va) at the time when thecomponent of the Z axis is the assumed “Zc” (step S407). Consequently,as shown in FIG. 22A, a coordinate (Xa′, Ya′, Za′) of an imaginary pointP3 corresponding to the screen coordinate (Ua, Va) and the assumedcomponent of the Z axis is obtained.

Subsequently, the control board 210 calculates an error (Xa′-Xc, Ya′-Yc)of the plane coordinate (Xc, Yc) of the irradiation position P2 withrespect to the plane coordinate (Xa′, Ya′) of the imaginary point P3 anddetermines whether the calculated error is within a determination rangedecided in advance (step S408). The determination range used at thispoint may be able to be set by the user or may be set in advance duringfactory shipment of the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400.

When, in step S408, the error (Xa′-Xc, Ya′-Yc) is within thedetermination range decided in advance, the control board 210 specifies,as a coordinate designated by the user, the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) ofthe irradiation position P2 decided in the immediately preceding stepS406 (step S409) and ends the designation and measurement processing.Thereafter, the control board 210 gives the specified coordinate (Xc,Yc, Zc) to the control section 310.

When, in step S408, the error (Xa′-Xc, Ya′-Yc) is outside thedetermination range decided in advance, the control board 210 sets, asthe coordinate (Xa, Ya, Za) set as an irradiation target of themeasurement light in step S404 explained above, the coordinate (Xa′,Ya′, Za′) of the imaginary point P3 obtained in the immediatelypreceding step S407 (step S410). Thereafter, the control board 210returns to the processing in step S404.

Consequently, after the deflecting direction of the measurement light ischanged, the processing in steps S404 to S408 is performed again. As aresult, finally, as shown in FIG. 22B, since the error (Xa′-Xc, Ya′-Yc)is within the determination range, a coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc)corresponding to the measurement point designated by the user isspecified.

In this example, the coordinate of the irradiation position P2 iscalculated as the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) by the processing in stepsS405 and S406. However, the present invention is not limited to this.The coordinate of the irradiation position P2 may be calculated as thecoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) by processing in step S306 in the designationand measurement processing shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

(11) The Actual Measurement Processing

The control board 210 receives a command for the actual measurementprocessing from the control section 310 to thereby start the actualmeasurement processing. When the actual measurement processing isstarted, first, the control board 210 acquires a coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc)of the measurement point given from the control section 310 togetherwith the command.

Even if the measurement light is irradiated on the basis of thecoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) of the measurement point set in the setting modeand the position conversion information, a plane coordinate of anirradiation position of the measurement light on the measurement objectS greatly deviates from the coordinate of the measurement pointdepending on a shape of the measurement object S measured in themeasurement mode.

For example, when a component of the Z axis of the portion of themeasurement object S corresponding to the measurement point greatlydeviates from “Zc”, the plane coordinate of the irradiation position ofthe measurement light greatly deviates from the set plane coordinate(Xc, Yc) of the measurement point. Therefore, in the actual measurementprocessing, the plane coordinate of the irradiation position of themeasurement light is adjusted to fit within a fixed range from the planecoordinate (Xc, Yc) of the measurement point.

Specifically, for example, after setting a screen coordinatecorresponding to the acquired coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) of the measurementpoint as (Ua, Va), the control board 210 sets the acquired coordinate(Xc, Yc, Zc) of the measurement point as the coordinate (Xa, Ya, Za) ofthe imaginary point P1 obtained in the processing in step S303 in FIG.16. Subsequently, the control board 210 performs steps S304 to S308 inFIGS. 16 and 17. Subsequently, the control board 210 adjusts thepositions of the movable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5 andthe angles of the reflecting sections 271 b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7 onthe basis of the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) specified in the processing instep S308 and the position conversion information and irradiates themeasurement light.

Subsequently, the control board 210 calculates, on the basis of thelight reception signal output from the light receiving section 232 dshown in FIG. 4, the positions of the movable sections 252 a and 252 bshown in FIG. 5, and the deflecting directions of the deflectingsections 271 and 272 shown in FIG. 7, a three-dimensional coordinate(Xb, Yb, Zb) of the portion on which the measurement light is irradiatedon the measurement object S and gives the three-dimensional coordinate(Xb, Yb, Zb) to the control section 310. Consequently, the actualmeasurement processing ends. Note that the control board 210 maycalculate, on the basis of the light reception signal output from thelight receiving section 232 d shown in FIG. 4, the positions of themovable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5, and the planecoordinate indicating the irradiation position of the measurement lighton the image acquired by the imaging section 220 shown in FIG. 1, thethree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the portion on which themeasurement light is irradiated on the measurement object S.

Alternatively, the control board 210 may execute the actual measurementprocessing as explained below. For example, after setting a screencoordinate corresponding to the acquired coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) of themeasurement point to (Ua, Va), the control board 210 sets the acquiredcoordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc) of the measurement point as the coordinate (Xa,Ya, Za) of the imaginary point P1 obtained in the processing in stepS403 in FIG. 20. Subsequently, the control board 210 performs processingin steps S404 to S409 shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. Subsequently, thecontrol board 210 adjusts the positions of the movable sections 252 aand 252 b shown in FIG. 5 and the angles of the reflecting sections 271b and 272 b shown in FIG. 7 on the basis of the coordinate (Xc, Yc, Zc)specified in the processing in step S408 and the position conversioninformation and irradiates the measurement light.

Thereafter, as in the example explained above, the control board 210calculates, on the basis of the light reception signal output from thelight receiving section 232 d shown in FIG. 4, the positions of themovable sections 252 a and 252 b shown in FIG. 5, and the deflectingdirections of the deflecting sections 271 and 272 shown in FIG. 7, athree-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) of the portion on which themeasurement light is irradiated on the measurement object S and givesthe three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb, Zb) to the control section310. Alternatively, the control board 210 calculates, on the basis ofthe light reception signal output from the light receiving section 232 dshown in FIG. 4, the positions of the movable sections 252 a and 252 bshown in FIG. 5, and the plane coordinate indicating the irradiationposition of the measurement light on the image acquired by the imagingsection 220 shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb,Zb) of the portion on which the measurement light is irradiated on themeasurement object S and gives the three-dimensional coordinate (Xb, Yb,Zb) to the control section 310.

(12) An Operation Example in which the Setting Mode and the MeasurementMode are Used

FIGS. 23 to 28 are diagrams for explaining an operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 in the setting mode. In thefollowing explanation, the users of the optical-scanning-heightmeasuring device 400 are distinguished as the measurement manager andthe measurement operator and explained.

First, the measurement manager positions the measurement object S, whichserves as a reference of height measurement, on the optical surfaceplate 111 and operates the setting button 341 a shown in FIG. 8 usingthe operation section 330 shown in FIG. 1. Consequently, theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 starts the operation in thesetting mode. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 23, thesetting screen 350 is displayed on the display section 340 shown inFIG. 1. The setting screen 350 includes an image display region 351 anda button display region 352. In the image display region 351, acurrently captured image of the measurement object S is displayed in theimage display region 351 as a reference image RI. In the diagrams ofFIGS. 23 to 28 and the diagrams of FIGS. 29 to 34 referred to below, acontour indicating a shape of the measurement object S in the referenceimage RI and a measurement image MI explained below displayed in theimage display region 351 is indicated by a thick solid line.

At a start point in time of the setting mode, in the button displayregion 352, a search region button 352 a, a pattern image button 352 b,and a setting completion button 352 c are displayed. The measurementmanager operates, for example, the search region button 352 a to performdrag operation or the like on the image display region 351.Consequently, the measurement manager sets a search region SR asindicated by a dotted line in FIG. 23. The measurement manager operates,for example, the pattern image button 352 b to perform the dragoperation or the like on the image display region 351. Consequently, itis possible to set a pattern image PI as indicated by an alternate longand short dash line in FIG. 23.

After setting the search region SR and the pattern image PI, themeasurement manager operates the setting completion button 352 c.Consequently, the setting of the search region SR and the pattern imagePI is completed. A display form of the setting screen 350 is switched asshown in FIG. 24. Specifically, in the image display region 351,indicators indicating the set search region SR and the set pattern imagePI are removed. In the button display region 352, a point designationbutton 352 d and a reference plane setting button 352 e are displayedinstead of the search region button 352 a and the pattern image button352 b shown in FIG. 23.

The measurement manager operates the point designation button 352 d toperform, for example, click operation on the image display region 351.Consequently, one or a plurality of (in this example, three) referencepoints are designated as indicated by “+” marks in FIG. 25. Thereafter,the measurement manager operates the reference plane setting button 352e. Consequently, a reference plane including the designated one orplurality of reference points is set. As indicated by an alternate longand two short dashes line in FIG. 26, an indicator indicating areference plane RF set in the image display region 351 is displayed.When four or more reference points are designated, all of the four ormore reference points are not always included in the reference plane RF.In this case, the reference plane RF is set such that, for example,distances among the plurality of reference points are small as a whole.Similarly, when a reference plane constraint condition for determining areference plane is decided, for example, when a condition that, forexample, the reference plane is parallel to a placing surface or thereference plane is parallel to other surfaces stored in advance, isdecided, when two or more reference points are designated, all of thetwo or more reference points do not always need to be included in thereference plane RF. Note that a plurality of reference planes RF may beset by repeating the operation of the point designation button 352 d andthe reference plane setting button 352 e.

Thereafter, the measurement manager operates the setting completionbutton 352 c. Consequently, the setting of the reference plane RF iscompleted. A display form of the setting screen 350 is switched as shownin FIG. 27. Specifically, in the image display region 351, theindicators indicating the one or plurality of reference points used forthe setting of the reference plane RF are removed. In the button displayregion 352, an allowable value button 352 g is displayed instead of thereference plane setting button 352 e shown in FIG. 26.

The measurement manager operates the point designation button 352 d toperform, for example, click operation on the image display region 351.Consequently, as indicated by “+” marks in FIG. 28, measurement pointsare designated. At this point, when a plurality of reference planes RFare set, one reference plane RF is selected out, of the plurality ofreference planes RF set as the reference plane RF serving as a referencefor designated measurement points. When the designation and measurementprocessing explained above is performed concerning the designatedmeasurement points and heights of portions of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement points can be calculated, the heightsof the portions of the measurement object S corresponding to themeasurement points are displayed on the image display region 351. Atthis point, a color of the “+” marks may be changed to, for example,green to indicate that the heights of the portions of the measurementobject S corresponding to the measurement points can be calculated.

On the other hand, when the designation and measurement processingexplained above is performed concerning the designated measurementpoints and the heights of the portions of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement points cannot be calculated, an errormessage such as “FAIL” may be displayed on the image display region 351.At this point, the color of the “+” marks may be changed to, forexample, red to indicate that the heights of the portions of themeasurement object S corresponding to the measurement points cannot becalculated.

When a plurality of measurement points are designated, it may bepossible to designate measurement route information. It may be possibleto set information indicating that, for example, a measurement route isset in the order of the designation of the plurality of measurementpoints or a measurement route is set to be the shortest.

During the designation of the measurement points, by further operatingthe allowable value button 352 g, the measurement manager can set adesign value and a tolerance as allowable values for each of themeasurement points. Lastly, the measurement manager operates the settingcompletion button 352 c. Consequently, a series of information includingthe plurality of measurement points and the allowable values are storedin the storing section 320 as registration information in associationwith one another. At this point, a specific file name is given to theregistration information. Note that the file name may be capable ofbeing set by the measurement manager.

As shown in FIGS. 25 to 28, indicators “+” indicating the positions ofthe reference points and the measurement points designated by themeasurement manger are superimposed and displayed on the reference imageRI. Consequently, the measurement manager can easily confirm thedesignated reference points and the designated measurement points byvisually recognizing the indicators superimposed and displayed on thereference image RI of the measurement object S.

In the present invention, the order of the setting of reference pointsand measurement points in the setting mode is not limited to the exampleexplained above. The setting of reference points and measurement pointsmay be performed as explained below.

FIGS. 29 to 31 are diagrams for explaining another operation example ofthe optical-scanning-height measuring device 400 in the setting mode. Inthis example, after the setting of the search region SR and the patternimage PI, as shown in FIG. 29, the setting completion button 352 c, thepoint designation button 352 d, the reference plane setting button 352e, the allowable value button 352 g, a reference point setting button352 h, and a measurement point setting button 352 i are displayed in thebutton display region 352.

In this state, the measurement manger operates the point designationbutton 352 d to perform click operation or the like on the image displayregion 351. At this point, as indicated by the “+” marks in FIG. 25, themeasurement manager designates a plurality of (in this example, five)points that can be reference points or measurement points.

Subsequently, the measurement manager operates the reference pointsetting button 352 h or the measurement point setting button 352 i foreach of the designated points to thereby determine whether the point isused as a reference point or used as a measurement point. Further, afterdetermining one or a plurality of points as reference points, themeasurement manager operates the reference plane setting button 352 e.Consequently, as shown in FIG. 30, one or a plurality of (in thisexample, three) reference points are displayed in the image displayregion 351 as indicated by dotted line “+” marks. A reference planebased on the one or plurality of reference points is displayed asindicated by an alternate long and two short dashes line. Further, oneor a plurality of (in this example, two) measurement points aredisplayed as indicated by solid line “+” marks.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 31, heights of portions of the measurementobject S corresponding to the designated measurement points aredisplayed on the image display region 351. At this point, as in theexample explained above, the measurement manager can set design valuesand tolerances as allowable values for each of the measurement points byoperating the allowable value button 352 g. Lastly, the measurementmanager operates the setting completion button 352 c.

FIGS. 32 to 34 are diagrams for explaining an operation example of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 in the measurement mode.The measurement operator positions the measurement object S set as atarget of height measurement on the optical surface plate 111 andoperates the measurement button 341 b shown in FIG. 8 using theoperation section 330 shown in FIG. 1. Consequently, theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 starts the operation in themeasurement mode. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 32, themeasurement screen 360 is displayed on the display section 340 shown inFIG. 1. The measurement screen 360 includes an image display region 361and a button display region 362. In the image display region 361, acurrently captured image of the measurement object S is displayed as themeasurement image MI.

At a start point in time of the measurement mode, a file reading button362 a is displayed in the button display region 362. The measurementoperator selects a file name pointed by the measurement manager byoperating the file reading button 362 a. Consequently, registrationinformation of height measurement corresponding to the measurementobject S placed on the optical surface plate 111 is read.

When the registration information is read, as shown in FIG. 33, thepattern image PI corresponding to the read registration information issuperimposed and displayed on the measurement image MI of the imagedisplay region 361 in a semitransparent state. A measurement button 362b is displayed in the button display region 362. In this case, themeasurement operator can position the measurement object S in a moreappropriate position on the optical surface plate 111 while referring tothe pattern image PI.

Thereafter, the measurement operator operates the measurement button 362b after performing the more accurate positioning work for themeasurement object S. Consequently, heights from a reference plane of aplurality of portions of the measurement object S corresponding to aplurality of measurement points of the read registration information aremeasured. When an allowable value is included in the read registrationinformation, pass/fail determination of the portions corresponding tothe measurement points is performed on the basis of the allowable value.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 34, the heights of the portions of themeasurement object S respectively corresponding to the set measurementpoints are displayed on the image display region 361. The heights of theportions of the measurement object S respectively corresponding to theset measurement points are displayed on the button display region 362. Aresult of the pass/fail determination based on the allowable value isdisplayed as an inspection result.

(13) First Modification

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing the control system 410 of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 according to a firstmodification. Concerning the control system 410 shown in FIG. 35,differences from the control system 410 shown in FIG. 10 are explained.As shown in FIG. 35, in the first modification, the control system 410further includes a geometric-element acquiring section 20 and ageometric-element calculating section 21.

In the setting mode, the geometric-element acquiring section 20 receivesdesignation of geometric elements concerning a position of a measurementpoint acquired by the position-information acquiring section 2. Thegeometric elements concerning the position of the measurement point arevarious elements that can be calculated on the basis of a coordinate ofa portion of the measurement object S corresponding to the measurementpoint. The geometric elements include, for example, flatness of adesired surface of the measurement object S and distances and angles ofa plurality of portions of the measurement object S. Allowable valuescorresponding to the designated geometric elements may be further inputto the allowable-value acquiring section 5.

The registering section 6 registers the geometric elements received bythe geometric-element acquiring section in association with themeasurement point. When the allowable values corresponding to thegeometric elements are input to the allowable-value acquiring section 5,the registering section 6 registers the allowable values received by theallowable-value acquiring section 5 in association with the geometricelements. The coordinate calculating section 13 further calculates acoordinate related to the geometric elements registered in theregistering section 6. The geometric-element calculating section 21calculates, on the basis of the coordinate related to the geometricelements calculated by the coordinate calculating section 13, values ofthe geometric elements registered in the registering section 6.

In the measurement mode, the correcting section 17 further sets, in themeasurement image data, the geometric elements corresponding to theregistration information registered by the registering section 6. Thecoordinate calculating section 13 further calculates a coordinaterelated to the geometric elements set by the correcting section 17. Thegeometric-element calculating section 21 calculates, on the basis of thecoordinate related to the geometric elements calculated by thecoordinate calculating section 13, geometric elements set by thecorrecting section 17.

With this configuration, since the measurement manager designates thegeometric elements in the setting mode, in the measurement mode, evenwhen the measurement operator is not skilled, it is possible touniformly acquire a calculation result of the geometric elements of thecorresponding portion of the measurement object S. Consequently, it ispossible to accurately and easily measure various geometric elementsincluding flatness and an assembling dimension of the measurement objectS.

When the allowable values corresponding to the geometric elements areregistered in the registering section 6, the inspecting section 18further inspects the measurement object S on the basis of the geometricelements calculated by the geometric-element calculating section 21 andthe allowable values registered in the registering section 6.Specifically, when the calculated geometric elements are within rangesof tolerances based on design values, the inspecting section 18determines that the measurement object S is a non-defective product. Onthe other hand, when the calculated geometric elements are outside theranges of the tolerances based on the design values, the inspectingsection 18 determines that the measurement object S is a defectiveproduct.

The report preparing section 19 prepares the report 420 shown in FIG. 11on the basis of the inspection result of the inspecting section 18 andthe reference image acquired by the measurement-image acquiring section16. In this case, inspection results of various geometric elements otherthan height are described in the report 420. In the example shown inFIG. 11, as the geometric elements, in addition to the height of theportion of the measurement object S, flatness, a difference in level,and an angle are described. Consequently, the measurement operator caninspect an assembling dimension of the measurement object S and caneasily report a result of the inspection to the measurement manager orthe other users using the report 420.

(14) Second Modification

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the opticalsection 230 of the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400according to a second modification. As shown in FIG. 36, the opticalsection 230 further includes, for example, a guide light source 233 thatemits light in a visible region. The light emitted by the guide lightsource 233 is referred to as guide light. The light guide section 240further includes a half mirror 247.

The half mirror 247 is disposed in a desired position on an optical pathof measurement light output from the port 245 d of the fiber coupler 245shown in FIG. 3. The half mirror 247 superimposes the guide lightemitted from the guide light source 233 and the measurement light outputfrom the port 245 d one on top of the other. Consequently, the guidelight is scanned by the scanning section 270 shown in FIG. 3 andirradiated on the measurement object S in a state in which the guidelight is superimposed on the measurement light.

With this configuration, the user can easily recognize an irradiationposition of light on the measurement object S from the scanning section270 by visually recognizing an irradiation position of the guide lighton the measurement object S. The imaging section 220 shown in FIG. 3 canclearly image the guide light on the measurement object S together withthe measurement light. Consequently, the image analyzing section 9 shownin FIG. 10 can easily detect, as a plane coordinate indicating anirradiation position of the measurement light, a plane coordinateindicating an irradiation position of the guide light on a referenceimage or a measurement image. Note that, typically, the measurementlight is infrared light having low coherency. Typically, the imagingsection 220 cannot image the infrared light. Therefore, in this case,the imaging section 220 images the irradiation position of the guidelight as the irradiation position of the measurement light.

In the second modification, the guide light source 233 and the halfmirror 247 are provided such that the guide light overlaps themeasurement light output from the port 245 d of the fiber coupler 245.However, the present invention is not limited to this. The guide lightsource 233 and the half mirror 247 may be provided such that the guidelight overlaps emission light output from the light emitting section 231shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the half mirror 247 is disposed in adesired position on an optical path of the emission light between thelight emitting section 231 and the port 245 a of the fiber coupler 245.

In the second modification, the guide light and the measurement lightare superimposed one on top of the other by the half mirror 247.However, the present invention is not limited to this. Typically, themeasurement light is infrared light having low coherency. The guidelight includes light in a visible region. Therefore, for example, theguide light and the measurement light may be superimposed one on top ofthe other by a wavelength selective mirror such as a dichroic mirrorthat shows high reflectance to light having a wavelength smaller than acutoff wavelength and shows high transmittance to light having awavelength larger than the cutoff wavelength. The guide light and themeasurement light may be superimposed one on top of the other by, forexample, a fiber coupler and an optical fiber. In this case, the fibercoupler has a so-called 2×1 type configuration.

(15) Effects

In the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400 according to thisembodiment, the user can designate a measurement point on a referenceimage of the measurement object S. Height of a portion of themeasurement object S corresponding to the designated measurement pointon the reference image is automatically calculated. Therefore, even whenthe user is not skilled, by designating a desired portion of themeasurement object S on an image, it is possible to uniformly acquire acalculation result of height of the portion.

For example, a skilled measurement manager designates a measurementpoint on the reference image of the measurement object S in the settingmode. Consequently, in the measurement mode, even when the measurementoperator is not skilled, it is possible to uniformly acquire acalculation result of height of a corresponding portion of themeasurement object S. Consequently, it is possible to accurately andeasily measure a shape of the desired portion of the measurement objectS.

Similarly, the measurement manager inputs an allowable valuecorresponding to the measurement point in the setting mode.Consequently, in the measurement mode, even when the measurementoperator is not skilled, it is possible to uniformly acquire adetermination result of pass/fail of the measurement object S.Consequently, it is possible to accurately and easily inspect themeasurement object S.

When the position-information acquiring section 2 receives thedesignation of the measurement point a plurality of times, themeasurement light is irradiated on a portion of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement point every time the designation of themeasurement point is received. Height of the portion is calculated. Thecalculation of the height can be executed before theposition-information acquiring section 2 receives designation of thenext measurement point. Consequently, it is possible to quickly acquireheights of a plurality of portions of the measurement object S.

(16) Other Embodiments

(a) The height calculating section 15 may calculate height of a portionof the measurement object S based on an origin in a peculiarthree-dimensional coordinate system defined in theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400. In this case, the user canacquire the absolute value of the height of the portion of themeasurement object S in the peculiar three-dimensional coordinatesystem. The height calculating section 15 may be capable of selectivelyoperating in a relative value calculation mode for calculating therelative value of height based on a reference plane and an absolutevalue calculation mode for calculating the absolute value of height in apeculiar three-dimensional coordinate system. In the absolute valuecalculation mode, since the reference plane is unnecessary, thereference point may be not designated.

(b) In the setting mode, when height of the portion of the measurementobject S corresponding to the measurement point cannot be calculated,the height calculating section 15 may cause the display section 340 todisplay an error message such as “FAIL”. In this case, by visuallyrecognizing the display section 340, the measurement manager canrecognize that height of the portion of the measurement object Scorresponding to the measurement point cannot be calculated.Consequently, the measurement manager can change the disposition of themeasurement object S or the optical-scanning-height measuring device 400or change the position of a measurement point to be designated such thatheight of the portion of the measurement object S can be calculated.

(c) The optical-scanning-height measuring device 400 may be capable ofinserting a drawing and a comment into the reference image acquired inthe setting mode or the measurement image acquired in the measurementmode. Consequently, it is possible to record a measurement state of themeasurement object S more in detail. The drawing and the commentinserted into the reference image may be registered as the registrationinformation.

For example, a frame line indicating the search region set in thesetting mode may be drawn in the reference image. In this case, in themeasurement mode, the frame line is displayed on the measurement image.Consequently, in the measurement mode, it is easy for the measurementoperator to place the measurement object S on the optical surface plate111 such that the measurement object S fits inside the frame linedisplayed on the measurement image. As a result, it is possible toefficiently correct deviation of the measurement image data with respectto the reference image data.

(d) The reference-image acquiring section 1 may cause the displaysection 340 to display the acquired reference image in a bird's eye viewfashion by performing image processing of the reference image.Similarly, the measurement-image acquiring section 16 may cause thedisplay section 340 to display the acquired measurement image in abird's eye view fashion by performing image processing of themeasurement image.

(e) In the embodiments explained above, the reference-image acquiringsection 1 and the measurement-image acquiring section 16 acquire thecaptured image of the measurement object S by the imaging section 220respectively as the reference image and the measurement image. However,the present invention is not limited to this. The reference-imageacquiring section 1 and the measurement-image acquiring section 16 mayacquire a CAD (Computer Aided Design) image of the measurement object Sprepared in advance respectively as the reference image and themeasurement image.

Alternatively, when the measurement light is irradiated on a pluralityof portions of the measurement object S, the height calculating section15 is capable of calculating heights of the plurality of portions of themeasurement object S. Therefore, the reference-image acquiring section 1and the measurement-image acquiring section 16 may acquire a distanceimage of the measurement object S respectively as the reference imageand the measurement image on the basis of the heights of the pluralityof portions of the measurement object S.

When the CAD image or the distance image is used as the reference image,the measurement manager can accurately designate a desired referencepoint and a desired measurement point on the CAD image or the distanceimage while recognizing a three-dimensional shape of the measurementobject S. When the distance image is used as the reference image and themeasurement image, the distance image may be quickly generated byreducing resolution.

(f) In the embodiments explained above, the measurement operatordesignates the file of the registration image during the start of themeasurement mode. However, the invention is not limited to this. Forexample, an ID (identification) tag corresponding to the file of theregistration information may be stuck to the measurement object S. Inthis case, the ID tag is imaged by the imaging section 220 together withthe measurement object S during the start of the measurement mode,whereby the file of the registration information corresponding to thetag is automatically designated. With this configuration, themeasurement operator does not need to designate the file of theregistration information during the start of the measurement mode.Therefore, the processing in step S203 in FIG. 15 is omitted.

(g) In the embodiments explained above, the height of the measurementobject S is calculated by the spectral interference system. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. The height of the measurementobject S may be calculated by another system such as a whiteinterference system, a confocal system, a triangulation system, or a TOF(time of flight) system.

(h) In the embodiments explained above, the operation modes of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 include the plurality ofoperation modes. The optical-scanning-height measuring device 400operates in the operation mode selected by the user. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. The operation modes of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 may include only a singleoperation mode without including the plurality of operation modes. Theoptical-scanning-height-measuring device 400 may operate in theoperation mode. For example, the operation modes of theoptical-scanning-height measuring device 400 may not include the settingmode and the measurement mode. The optical-scanning-height measuringdevice 400 may operate in the same operation mode as the height gaugemode.

(i) In the embodiments explained above, the light guide section 240includes the optical fibers 241 to 244 and the fiber coupler 245.However, the present invention is not limited to this. The light guidesection 240 may include a half mirror instead of the optical fibers 241to 244 and the fiber coupler 245.

(17) A Correspondence Relation Between the Constituent Elements of theClaims and the Sections of the Embodiments

An example of correspondence between the constituent elements of theclaims and the sections of the embodiments is explained below. However,the present invention is not limited to the example explained below.

In the embodiments explained above, the measurement object S is anexample of the measurement object, the reference-image acquiring section1 or the measurement-image acquiring section 16 is an example of theimage acquiring section, and the position-information acquiring section2 is an example of the position-information acquiring section. The lightemitting section 231 is an example of the light emitting section, thedeflecting sections 271 and 272 are examples of the deflecting section,the light receiving section 232 d is an example of the light receivingsection, the driving control section 3 is an example of the drivingcontrol section, and the detecting section 8 is an example of thedetecting section.

The height-calculating section 15 is an example of theheight-calculating section, the optical-scanning-height measuring device400 is an example of the optical-scanning-height measuring device, andthe coordinate calculating section 13 is an example of the coordinatecalculating section and the second position specifying section. Thereference plane RF is an example of the reference plane, thereference-plane acquiring section 4 is an example of the reference-planeacquiring section, the movable mirror 254 c is an example of thereference body, the light guide section 240 is an example of the lightguide section, and the reading sections 257 a and 257 b are examples ofthe reference-position acquiring section.

The spectral section 232 b is an example of the spectral section, theimaging section 220 is an example of the imaging section, the imageanalyzing section 9 is an example of the first position specifyingsection, and the determining section 14 is an example of the first andsecond determining sections. The guide light source 233 is an example ofthe guide light source, the registering section 6 is an example of theregistering section, the geometric-element acquiring section 20 is anexample of the geometric-element acquiring section, thegeometric-element calculating section 21 is an example of thegeometric-element calculating section, and the display section 340 is anexample of the display section.

As the constituent elements of the claims, other various elements havingthe configurations or the functions described in the claims can also beused.

The present invention can be effectively used for variousoptical-scanning-height measuring devices.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical-scanning-height measuring devicecomprising: a camera configured to acquire an image of a measurementobject; a position-information receiver configured to receivedesignation of a measurement point on the image of the measurementobject acquired by the camera; a light emitter configured to emit light;a light deflector configured to deflect the light emitted from the lightemitter and irradiate the light on the measurement object; a lightreceiver configured to receive the light from the measurement object andoutput a light reception signal indicating a received light amount; adriving controller configured to control the light deflector toirradiate the light on a portion of the measurement object correspondingto the measurement point; a deflection detector configured to detect adeflecting direction of the light deflector or an irradiation positionof the light deflected by the light deflector; and a height calculatorconfigured to calculate height of the portion of the measurement objectcorresponding to the measurement point on the basis of the deflectingdirection of the light deflector or the irradiation position of thelight deflected by the light deflector detected by the deflectiondetector and the light reception signal output by the light receiver. 2.The optical-scanning-height measuring device according to claim 1,wherein the position-information receiver superimposes and displays anindicator indicating a position of the received measurement point on theimage of the measurement object acquired by the camera.
 3. Theoptical-scanning-height measuring device according to claim 1, wherein,when the position-information receiver sequentially receives designationof first and second measurement points, the driving controller iscapable of controlling the light deflector to irradiate the light on aportion of the measurement object corresponding to the first measurementpoint after the position-information receiver receives the firstmeasurement point and before the position-information receiver receivesthe second measurement point.
 4. The optical-scanning-height measuringdevice according to claim 1, wherein the position-information receiverfurther receives designation of one or a plurality of reference pointson the image of the measurement object acquired by the camera, thedriving controller controls the light deflector to irradiate the lighton a portion or portions of the measurement object corresponding to theone or plurality of reference points, the optical-scanning-heightmeasuring device further comprises: a coordinate calculating sectionconfigured to calculate, on the basis of a detection result of thedeflection detector and the light reception signal output by the lightreceiver, a coordinate corresponding to the position on the imagereceived by the position-information receiver; and a reference-planeacquiring section configured to acquire a reference plane on the basisof a coordinate or coordinates corresponding to the one or plurality ofreference points calculated by the coordinate calculating section, andthe height calculator calculates, on the basis of the coordinatecorresponding to the measurement point calculated by the coordinatecalculating section, height of the portion of the measurement objectbased on the reference plane acquired by the reference-plane acquiringsection.
 5. The optical-scanning-height measuring device according toclaim 1, wherein the optical-scanning-height measuring device has apeculiar coordinate system decided in advance, and the height calculatorcalculates height of the portion of the measurement object based on anorigin in the peculiar coordinate system.
 6. The optical-scanning-heightmeasuring device according to claim 1, further comprising: a referencebody disposed to be capable of moving along a first movement axis; alight guide configured to guide the light emitted by the light emitterto the light deflector as measurement light and guide the light emittedby the light emitter to the reference body as reference light, generateinterference light of the measurement light from the measurement objectreflected by the light deflector and the reference light reflected bythe reference body, and guide the generated interference light to thelight receiver; a reference-position acquiring section configured toacquire a position of the reference body; and a spectral sectionconfigured to spectrally disperse the interference light generated bythe light guide, wherein the light emitter emits temporally low-coherentlight, the light deflector deflects the measurement light guided by thelight guide to irradiate the measurement light on the measurement objectand reflects the measurement light from the measurement object to thelight guide, the light receiver receives the interference lightspectrally dispersed by the spectral section and outputs a lightreception signal indicating a received light amount of the interferencelight, and the height calculator calculates height of the portion of themeasurement object on the basis of the position of the reference bodyacquired by the reference-position acquiring section and the receivedlight amount of the interference light in the light reception signaloutput from the light receiver.
 7. The optical-scanning-height measuringdevice according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging sectionconfigured to image the measurement object, wherein the camera acquiresan image on the basis of a result of the imaging by the imaging section.8. The optical-scanning-height measuring device according to claim 7,wherein the imaging section further images the light on the measurementobject, the optical-scanning-height measuring device further comprises:a first position specifying section configured to specify an irradiationposition of the light in an image captured by the imaging section; and afirst determining section configured to determine whether theirradiation position of the light specified by the first positionspecifying section is present within a range decided in advance from themeasurement point, and the driving controller controls the lightdeflector on the basis of a result of the determination by the firstdetermining section.
 9. The optical-scanning-height measuring deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a second position specifyingsection configured to specify, on the basis of the detection result ofthe deflection detector and the light reception signal output by thelight receiver, a plane position on the measurement object on which thelight is irradiated; and a second determining section configured todetermine whether the plane position on the measurement object specifiedby the second position specifying section is present within a rangedecided in advance from a position corresponding to the measurementpoint, and the driving controller controls the light deflector on thebasis of a result of the determination by the second determiningsection.
 10. The optical-scanning-height measuring device according toclaim 1, further comprising a guide light source configured to emitguide light irradiated on the measurement object to overlap the lightirradiated on the measurement object from the light deflector.
 11. Theoptical-scanning-height measuring device according to claim 1, whereinthe optical-scanning-height measuring device is configured toselectively operate in a setting mode and a measurement mode and furthercomprises a registering section, the position-information receiverreceives, in the setting mode, the measurement point on an image of afirst measurement object, the registering section registers, in thesetting mode, the measurement point received by the position-informationreceiver, the driving controller controls, in the measurement mode, thelight deflector to irradiate the light on a portion of a secondmeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point registered bythe registering section, the deflection detector detects, in themeasurement mode, the deflecting direction of the light deflector or theirradiation position of the light deflected by the light deflector, andthe height calculator calculates, in the measurement mode, height of aportion of the second measurement object corresponding to themeasurement point.
 12. The optical-scanning-height measuring deviceaccording to claim 11, further comprising: a geometric-element acquiringsection configured to receive, in the setting mode, designation of ageometric element concerning a position of the measurement point andcause the registering section to register the received geometric elementin association with the measurement point; and a geometric-elementcalculating section configured to calculate, in the measurement mode, onthe basis of the deflecting direction of the light deflector or theirradiation position of the light deflected by the light deflectordetected by the deflection detector, a value of the geometric elementconcerning a position of the measurement point corresponding to thegeometric element registered in the registering section.
 13. Theoptical-scanning-height measuring device according to claim 11, furthercomprising a display section, wherein the driving controller controls,in the setting mode, the light deflector to irradiate the light on aportion of the first measurement object corresponding to the measurementpoint, the deflection detector detects, in the setting mode, adeflecting direction of the light deflector or an irradiation positionof the light defected by the light deflector, and the height calculatorcalculates, in the setting mode, height of the portion of the firstmeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point and causes thedisplay section to display the calculated height.
 14. Theoptical-scanning-height measuring device according to claim 12, whereinthe height calculator causes the display section to display an errormessage when, in the setting mode, height of a portion of the firstmeasurement object corresponding to the measurement point cannot becalculated.
 15. The optical-scanning-height measuring device accordingto claim 11, further comprising: an allowable-value acquiring sectionconfigured to receive, in the setting mode, an input of an allowablevalue of height of a portion of the first measurement objectcorresponding to the measurement point and cause the registering sectionto register the received allowable value in association with themeasurement point; and an inspecting section configured to determine, inthe measurement mode, pass/fail of the second measurement object on thebasis of the height of the portion of the second measurement objectcalculated by the height calculator and the allowable value registeredby the registering section.